Our motto is "Touching Hearts - Changing Lives - and Sharing the Light of Christ" and this is the driving force behind all that we do. For over 75 years, Camp Tekoa has provided summer fun and adventures in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, just outside Hendersonville, NC.
Founded in 1949 by the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Tekoa was originally designed for junior high aged boys and girls. The site was chosen for its clean water, beautiful scenery, existing buildings, and proximity to town. The name Tekoa, which means "Sound of the Trumpet" and is the Biblical homeland of the prophet Amos, was chosen by the first summer's campers and staff. Under the direction of Rev Carl King and his wife Mary, campers from across WNC came for one week sessions, which included swimming, boating, crafts, and a Closing Campfire and Candlelight.
For decades, Tekoa had United Methodist clergy serve as rotating directors, and staff included college students, Duke Divinity school students, and international staff. The program expanded to include high schoolers, and then, in the early 1980s, elementary school campers. Day Camp was added in 1990. Early Adventure Camps allowed Tekoa the chance to take campers off site to paddle, climb, and backpack, and over recent years have continued to offer new experiences, including horseback riding and snorkeling.
Today, Tekoa offers summer camps (day camp, overnight, and adventure); retreat opportunities for all kinds of groups; and school year programming, including Afterschool, Homeschool, and Outdoor Education. The community is thriving, with campers joining staff, staff sending their own children as campers, and alumni staying connected years past their own time at camp. Although Tekoa now has a number of full time employees year round, we continue the tradition of hiring summer staff from across NC, the Southeast, and internationally.
Throughout the life of Tekoa, regardless of program size, or camper age, the values we hold dear have remained constant: We believe camp can be a life changing experience for everyone. We believe in the importance of disconnecting from outside distractions and immersing ourselves in the natural world. We believe in the value of trying new things, stepping outside our comfort zones, and challenging ourselves. We believe that living in community and working together in small family groups builds relationships and strengthens friendships. We believe that camp is an ideal way for children and youth to experience first hand the love of Christ.
At the end of each camp week, we gather around the lake with lit candles raised high, and campers are encouraged "as they leave this place called Tekoa" to go out into the world and remember that we love them and God loves them.
