What Camp Tekoa does

Camp Tekoa is a Christian summer camp and retreat center established in 1949 and operated by the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church on a 135-acre site in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Hendersonville, North Carolina. The camp serves more than 2,000 campers each summer across a tiered portfolio of day camps, overnight resident camps, and adventure camps segmented by age from elementary through high school, plus specialized programs including Barnabas Camp for adults with developmental disabilities, Family Camp, and Break Camps during school holidays. The camp also operates year-round programming through Tekoa Afterschool, a bi-monthly Tekoa Homeschool outdoor education program serving families across four western NC counties, and Camp Tekoa Retreats, a separate entity hosting church and corporate retreat bookings on the same property.

The camp's underlying technology footprint is intentionally minimal. It relies on the third-party Active Network registration and payment platform (campscui.active.com) for camper enrollment, payments, and availability checks, and operates on a deliberately screen-free programming philosophy that prohibits camper devices. Facilities include a spring-fed lake, 350-foot zipline, 40-foot climbing tower, challenge course, cabins, dining hall, and trail system, complemented by a 24-hour nurse-staffed infirmary and proximity to Pardee Hospital. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (250 standards review) and is a member of the Christian Camp and Conference Association.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-session camper registration fees with a $150 minimum non-refundable deposit, supplemented by retreat center rentals, afterschool and homeschool program fees, summer store merchandise, and charitable donations to the Tekoa Scholarship Fund. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, relying on a content-driven SEO strategy (69+ resource pages targeting regional keywords), an active Instagram presence, virtual tours, brochure downloads, and church network referrals through the United Methodist affiliation. Operations are staffed by approximately 100 seasonal employees each summer.

Name

Camp Tekoa

Legal name

United Methodist Camp Tekoa

Website

https://camptekoa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Tekoa is a Christian summer camp and retreat center founded in 1949 in Hendersonville, NC, serving 2,000+ campers annually with day, overnight, adventure, and special needs programs, plus year-round afterschool, homeschool, and retreat offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camps and Outdoor Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Overnight camp experiences
• Retreat center rentals
• Outdoor adventure camps
• After-school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hendersonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Revenue generated from session-based registration fees for various summer camp programs including Day Camps, Elementary Overnight Camps, Middle School Overnight Camps, High School Overnight Camps, Adventure Camps, and Special Needs Camps (Barnabas). Each program type has different pricing based on duration and activities offered.
2. After-School Programs: Year-round afterschool programming providing outdoor education activities for local youth in Henderson County. The program operates on a recurring session basis with enrollment options.
3. Homeschool Programming: Bi-monthly morning homeschool programs incorporating outdoor education, STEM, crafts, and camp activities for homeschool and charter school students from Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania, and Polk counties.
4. Retreat Center Rentals: Conference and retreat center services for church groups, corporate teams, and other organizations. Weekend retreats and day events featuring team-building activities, outdoor adventures, and facility use including lodging, dining, and activity areas.
5. Summer Store/Merchandise: The camp operates a Summer Store for campers offering merchandise and supplies.
6. Scholarship Fund Donations: Partial scholarships available from the Tekoa Scholarship Fund for families who cannot cover full fees, supported by charitable donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Camp Tekoa is a Christian summer camp and retreat center operating day camps, overnight camps, adventure camps, family camp, and a special-needs camp (Barnabas) for campers ages 6 through adult, supplemented by a year-round afterschool program, a bi-monthly homeschool program, and a retreat center renting to church groups and corporate teams. All programs run on its 135-acre Blue Ridge Mountain campus near Hendersonville, NC, under the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Product overview

Camp Tekoa is a Christian summer camp and retreat center offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs. The core offerings include Day Camps (Elementary Day Camp, Adventure Day Camp), Overnight Camps (Mini, Elementary TKO, MS TKO, HS TKO), Adventure Camps (Quest, Cascade, Survivor, Expedition, and more), Special Needs Camps (Barnabas, Camp Jim), Family Camp, and year-round programs including Afterschool and Homeschool Programs. The camp is complemented by a dedicated Retreats facility for corporate events and church retreats. All programs are built around the mission of 'Touching Hearts, Changing Lives, Sharing the Light of Christ' and are located on 135 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Hendersonville, NC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Camps Day camp programs for elementary students ages 6-11, including Elementary Day Camp (ages 6-8) and Adventure Day Camp (ages 9-11), running Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm with activities that include nature hikes, scavenger hunts, devotions, challenge courses, paddle boating, and zip lines.
• Overnight Camps (TKO) Progressive overnight resident camp programs including Mini Camp (ages 7-11), Elementary TKO (ages 8-11), Elementary Adventure (ages 9-10), MS TKO (ages 11-14), MS TKO Starter (ages 12-14), MS Adventure camps, HS TKO (ages 14-17), and HS Adventure camps, challenging campers physically, mentally, and spiritually through age-appropriate activities.
• Adventure Camps Off-site excursion and specialized activity camps for various age groups: Elementary Quest (ages 9-10); Middle School Breakout, Cascade (all girls), Journey, Leap, Overboard (all boys), MS Water Adventure, MS Survivor; High School Blitz!, HS Cascade (all girls), Expedition, Ultimate Challenge, HS Water Adventure, Expedition Extreme! (2 weeks), HS Survivor.
• Special Needs Camps (Barnabas) Specialized programs for adults with developmental disabilities, including Barnabas Camp (age 18+) and Camp Jim (weekend event in September). Each camper is paired with a volunteer 'special friend' who provides one-on-one support throughout the week. Activities include boating, hiking, zipline, arts and crafts, devotions, and talent shows.
• Retreats (Camp Tekoa Retreats) Conference and retreat center services offering outdoor activities, team-building exercises, lodging, and dining for corporate events, church retreats, and special events. Activities include ax throwing, lake zipline, low elements challenge course, lake slide, swimming pool, archery, and orienteering.
• Tekoa Afterschool Year-round afterschool program for children in Henderson County offering outdoor activities on Camp Tekoa's 135-acre campus, including miles of trails, disc golf, playing field, outdoor climbing, ziplines, high ropes course, big swing, lake with swimming area, and rope swings.
• Tekoa Homeschool Bi-monthly morning homeschool program for elementary-aged students from Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania, and Polk counties, incorporating outdoor education (compass, map reading, flora and fauna identification, conservation), STEM (gardening, cooking, hands-on experiments), crafts, and camp activities (swimming, zipline, climbing).
• Family Camp 4-day, 3-night family camp experience where families explore camp life together with lake swimming, paddle boating, canoeing, hiking, the Big Zip (400-foot zipline from 45-foot tower), tree climb, disc golf, and lake zipline.
• Break Camps Fall and spring break camps running from 8:00am to 6:00pm with themed programming for school-age children during school breaks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of campers at resident camp experience homesickness on at least one day - camp proactively addresses this through Family Group System and preparation resources
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United Methodist Camp and Retreat MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Tekoa is affiliated with and operated under the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. This affiliation provides denominational oversight, connection to broader Methodist camp ministry network, pastoral support through Pastors of the Week, and alignment with United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries standards and resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camp Greystone: Premier Christian summer camp for girls in Tuxedo, NC (Western NC mountains), affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Multi-activity overnight program with similar demographic, pricing tier, and faith-based positioning as Camp Tekoa.
• Camp Pinnacle: Co-ed Christian summer camp in Hendersonville, NC founded in 1928. Multi-activity overnight programming with similar faith-based positioning, geographic market, and target family demographic as Camp Tekoa.
• Camp Timberlake: Premier Christian summer camp for boys in Zirconia, NC (Western NC mountains), affiliated with the Christian Camping Association. Sits within 30 miles of Camp Tekoa with similar multi-activity adventure programming and faith-based positioning.
• Camp Ridgecrest: Christian summer camp for boys in Ridgecrest, NC (Western NC mountains), affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America. Offers multi-activity overnight programming with adventure activities, comparable in scale and mission to Camp Tekoa.
• Kanuga Conferences: Episcopal-affiliated conference center, summer camp, and retreat facility located in Hendersonville, NC — literally adjacent to Camp Tekoa. Offers summer youth camps, family programs, and retreat rentals with comparable multi-activity programming on a mountain lake setting.
• Sky Ranch UMC Retreat & Camps: United Methodist-affiliated multi-location camp and retreat organization in Texas and Colorado. Operates summer camps, family camps, and retreat centers under the same UMC Camp and Retreat Ministries umbrella as Camp Tekoa.
• Camp Ton-A-Wandah: Long-established girls' summer camp in Hendersonville, NC founded in 1935. Sits in the same Western NC mountain region with multi-activity programming including water sports, adventure, and arts — directly competing for the same local family demographic.

Regional players

• Camp Bob Cooper: United Methodist camp in Sumter, SC serving the South Carolina region. Direct UMC-affiliated peer with comparable program structure (summer camps, retreats, special needs programs) targeting similar Southeast demographic.

Emerging players

• Camp Cherokee (YMCA): YMCA-operated summer camp in Kings Mountain, NC offering multi-activity overnight programming for similar youth demographic. Competes with Camp Tekoa for working/middle-class Western NC families seeking affordable options.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly: Historic YMCA conference center in Black Mountain, NC offering retreats, youth programs, and outdoor programming. Broader portfolio with less summer-camp specialization but directly competing for retreat and group business in the Western NC region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/camptekoa
• Xx.com/umccamptekoa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Tekoa