A guide for parents and campers
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Prepare for Camp

Our goal is to ensure a seamless transition into camp life, providing you with everything needed to confidently prepare your camper for a profound encounter with Jesus Christ.

View The Parent Handbook
Camper Forms
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The Place of Encounter
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Your questions answered

Sending a child to camp is a big milestone, and you likely have questions about everything from cabin life and medical care to mail delivery and homesickness. We want you to feel completely confident and at ease about your camper's upcoming week.

We have gathered answers to our most frequently asked questions into one comprehensive, easy-to-read guide. Click below to view the full handbook.

Download the Packing List
Download the Packing List
Download Our Parent Handbook
Download Our Parent Handbook 
camp rhythm

A day at Camp Tekakwitha

While every single day at Camp Tekakwitha brings new surprises, theme days, and activities, our daily rhythm balances powerful prayer, high-energy adventure, and intentional community rest.

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    Faith and Adventure

    The Morning

    We start our day together in prayer before heading to the dining hall for breakfast. Mornings are packed with energy, alternating between deep-dive faith formation sessions and high-adventure outdoor activities like rock climbing and ropes courses.

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    Activities & Rest

    The Afternoon

    After a community lunch filled with camp songs and skits, campers head into afternoon recreation—swimming, kayaking, and archery. We wrap up the afternoon with "Flat on Bunk" (FOB) time, a camp-wide quiet hour to rest and recharge, followed by open free time to check mail and hang out.

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    Praise & Community

    The Evening

    Following dinner, the campus transitions into powerful evening sessions with vibrant talks and worship at the Grotto. We cap off the night with high-energy camp-wide events, followed by cabin "Highs & Lows" to process the day together before lights out.

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The Place of Encounter
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The Ranch: Home of Camp Tekakwitha

Set across the hills, woodlands, and open prairie of Northeast Kansas, Prairie Star Ranch boasts 291 acres of natural beauty.

Since the year 2000, this sacred space has provided the beautiful backkdrop for the ministry of Camp Tekakwitha. The Ranch abounds with intentional devotional spaces, climate controlled lodging, and outdoor adventure — the perfect setting to help transform every moment at camp into an encounter with Jesus Christ, his Church, and his creation.

Explore The Ranch
Explore The Ranch
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Testimonials

What Our Campers Have to Say

  • Camp gave me great faith formation, compassionate friends, and an ever-deepening faith-life that I take with me everywhere.

    — Abigail, former camper

  • Over and over again I encounter God in the chapel surrounded by saints and friends. He has given me so many inspirations and lifelines as I try to walk closer with Him each day!

    — Magdalen, former camper

  • I have made the absolute best friends because of Camp Tekakwitha!

    — Sarah, former camper

  • Camp really taught me how to have a relationship with God through entering into silent Prayer every day. Learning how to live out this relationship with God at camp has also helped me to deepen my friendships with those around me.

    — Jacob, former camper

  • Jesus showed His face in so many different places that I had never even looked. I can't begin to describe the love that I felt every single session. He showed me how close He wanted to be with me every day.

    — Jonathan, former camper

  • Camp has given me life-long, virtuous friendships. In that way it's still inspiring and growing my faith even though I'm not actively involved at camp anymore.

    — Haley, former camper

  • One of the things that makes camp so special is that it is just one big God moment. An attitude of gratitude permeates the campus. Nothing is taken for granted. Everything is recognized as a miracle.

    — Tighe, former camper

  • Learning the joy of self-giving, establishing a habit of daily prayer, and making lifelong friends in Christ.

    — Meagan, former camper

Group of five smiling young people outdoors in a park, wearing casual and colorful athletic clothing, with green trees and other people in the background.
A white statue of Jesus Christ holding a heart, situated outdoors in front of green trees and grass, with children and an adult seated in front of it on a bench.
A group of children cheering as two kids high-five on top of a wooden obstacle during an outdoor event in a wooded area.
A group of young students sitting in blue plastic chairs inside a dimly lit room, smiling and posing for the camera. Some students are wearing casual t-shirts, and a few are making peace signs.
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A group of people practicing outdoor yoga or stretching in a park on a sunny day, with trees and a clear sky in the background.
Two boys hugging outdoors near a large tree on a grassy area, with children wearing backpacks nearby, during daytime.
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A group of young boys dressed in athletic clothing and face paint, standing outdoors on a dirt field, some with backpacks and a dog puppet, with trees in the background.
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Two children wearing white masks in a backyard, one is holding a bow and aiming an arrow, surrounded by scattered golf balls, trees, and a shed in the background.
A large group of young people gathered in a dimly lit room with wooden paneling, some raising their hands and clapping, with a few appearing to sing or shout.
People wearing helmets and harnesses crossing a ropes course with swings and a netted obstacle, outdoors against a cloudy sky.
Children wearing helmets climbing a rope bridge at an outdoor adventure park during daytime, surrounded by tall trees.
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Two children in life jackets slide down an inflatable water slide into a lake while others swim and float nearby, with a background of trees and a clear sky.
Two smiling young men standing close together by a lake, wearing life vests, with a dock and a person sitting on it in the background.
Two young women standing outdoors in front of green foliage, smiling at the camera, wearing casual t-shirts with bandanas tied around their waists.
Group of young people lying on the carpeted floor, smiling and making playful gestures.
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Two young girls wearing pink t-shirts with the words 'Camp Takawhita' and helmets, standing outdoors with bicycles, smiling and holding hands, surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.
People wearing safety helmets walking on ropes and wooden platforms high above the ground, part of an outdoor adventure course or zipline activity against a cloudy sky.
Young person in helmet climbing a wooden rock climbing wall outdoors.
A group of girls sit around a table, working on a craft project with blue string, in a wooden interior room. One girl is smiling at the camera, revealing braces, while the others focus on their work.
Two young men standing together in a rustic indoor setting with a stone fireplace, wooden beams, and decorative lamps. One is pointing at the other, who is wearing a YETI cap and a blue t-shirt.
Two young women smiling and standing close together inside a rustic wooden building, wearing yellow bandanas. They are holding knitting yarn and supplies, with the woman on the right wearing a black T-shirt with a graphic design.
A person wearing a white protective mask and a blue bandana is practicing archery outdoors on a grassy field, surrounded by trees, with several other people in the background also wearing masks.
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A group of young people sitting and standing inside a room with large windows, with a view of green trees outside. Some of them are wearing red bandanas and some have backpacks.
A group of young women at an outdoor event, smiling and giving thumbs-up. The woman in the center has purple face paint, wears a purple shirt and a purple bandana, and has ear jewelry. The women are dressed casually and are surrounded by trees.
A group of people on a large inflatable water slide outdoors, with one girl in the front wearing a life vest, smiling and holding onto the slide, surrounded by greenery and trees.
A young girl with long brown hair, wearing a red shirt and pink shorts, smiling and sitting on muddy grass after sliding down a blue tarp water slide on a sunny day, with other children in the background.
Group of young people at an outdoor water activity, with one person sitting on a blue tarp holding a ball, others standing around, and buckets of water in the foreground.
Children enjoying a summer day on an inflatable water slide set up on a lake, with some climbing up the slide and others jumping and playing in the water.
A young man with paint on his face and a red bandana covering his eyes, smiling, holding a wooden ladder with a plastic bag on top.
Girl climbing a wooden outdoor rock wall, wearing a helmet and harness, against a blue sky with clouds.
Girl in a purple shirt and bandana blindfolded, smiling as she reaches forward with her hands on a wooden floor, participating in a game involving a small green ball.
Children participating in an outdoor archery activity, aiming bows at large colorful target boards on wooden stands in a grassy area with trees in the background.
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People kayaking on a river with green trees in the background.
Person wearing blue helmet and harness climbing a tall wooden outdoor rock wall with multicolored handholds and footholds, secured with a red safety rope.
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Group of young people smiling and posing outdoors near a lake, with trees and picnic tables in the background.
Children playing on a high ropes adventure course with a large net, platforms, and safety ropes, against a cloudy sky.
Children with kayaks and paddles by a lake shore during daytime.
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A group of smiling young girls sitting in chairs at an indoor event, making peace signs and wearing white T-shirts with handwritten messages, some holding snacks.
Smiling young man taking a selfie at a casual gathering, surrounded by others, seated in chairs.
Four children kayaking on a calm river, with trees lining the shore in the background.
A group of children and teenagers gathered in a circle on a grassy field during daytime, with a soccer goal and trees in the background.
A group of people in white T-shirts with writing on them huddle together in a circle outdoors during daytime, celebrating after a volleyball game on a grassy field with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
Group of young girls at an outdoor event, smiling and posing for a photo. Some girls are making peace signs and holding water bottles. In the background, there are other people and large orange water coolers, with trees overhead.
People enjoying a party with colorful laser lights illuminating the dark room.
A large group of people, mostly young females, are gathered outdoors underneath trees, raising their hands and appearing to sing or cheer. Many are wearing casual clothes and some are wearing lanyards.
Two young girls smiling, standing outdoors, wearing helmets and harnesses, with a group of children in the background at a park or playground.
A young boy wearing a blue helmet and pink shirt riding a zip line while an adult man, wearing a yellow helmet and blue staff T-shirt, holds the zip line rope. The background consists of green trees.
Children and adults playing on a sandy beach by a lake, with some kids swimming in the water and others filling buckets with sand, during daytime.
Person lighting candles at a religious shrine with framed icons of saints and candle holders.
Group of children playing a game outdoors in a wooded area on a sunny day.
A group of young girls are sitting and kneeling on a wooden deck outside, with one girl braiding another girl's hair. In the background, a person is standing and holding a book, and another person is standing near a cooler. Various objects like water
A young girl with long hair wearing sunglasses and a pink T-shirt sitting on the ground near a campfire in a forest. Other children are partially visible standing nearby.
Children climbing a large outdoor wooden rock climbing wall, surrounded by trees.
Two boys wearing blue helmets and harnesses, smiling and posing outdoors with greenery and a wooden climbing wall in the background.
A young girl smiling at the camera, wearing a colorful lei made of flower leis, with her arms extended, at a beach or sandy area during sunset. In the background, people are sitting and playing on the sand, some with leis, with warm golden light illu
Three people in a lake or river during sunset, including a smiling woman giving a thumbs-up, a young boy with water wings on his arms sitting on the woman's shoulders, and a man in the water giving a thumbs-up.
A group of smiling children and two adults standing in a body of water, with some more children swimming in the background.
People kayaking on a river with a large green tree-lined hill in the background on a clear day.
Child wearing a helmet climbing a rope net on an outdoor adventure course with blue sky and trees in the background.
A woman and a young girl sit in a blue and white tandem kayak on a body of water, each holding a paddle with black shafts and blue blades, enjoying a sunny day. In the background, other kayakers are visible on the water, and the shoreline with trees
Two children, one in a blue helmet and another in a white shirt, are climbing a ropes course. The child in the blue helmet is holding a yellow safety line, and they are both on a wooden platform, surrounded by ropes and safety harnesses, with trees i
Group of young men smiling and posing together indoors, with one person wearing a Kansas City Royals shirt.
People gathered behind a glass window, some are standing, with framed pictures on the wall and a colorful statue visible in the background.
A group of young people dancing indoors in a dark room, with some wearing bright clothing and sunglasses, under dim colored lighting.
A large group of children and teenagers posing outdoors in front of a sculpture of Jesus and two other figures, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Group of children outdoors participating in team-building activity, holding hands and working together
Two girls wearing blue helmets and harnesses stand outdoors, smiling and posing for a photo with trees in the background.
Four smiling girls sitting outdoors on grass with trees in the background. One girl is wearing a red shirt with white text, another in a blue shirt, and two in white striped shirts. They are enjoying a sunny day.
Four young girls sitting outdoors in a shaded park, smiling at the camera. They are surrounded by green trees and grass, with some camping items on a bench beside them.
A young boy aims a bow and arrow towards archery targets outdoors on a sunny day, with trees and a blue sky with white clouds in the background.
A large crowd of people gathered outdoors at night, with some wearing caps and jackets. A prominent illuminated religious image of a Sacred Heart with a cross above it is displayed in the background, decorated with string lights.
A small metallic car sculpture with a shiny, reflective surface, positioned on a textured fabric surface against a dark background.
A campfire with flames burning against a dark night background.
Three girls sitting on a wooden park bench near a lake, smiling and giving thumbs-up signs, with two girls in the background near the water.
Two girls relaxing in blue kayaks on the shore of a lake, smiling, wearing life jackets, with water and rocks in the background.
Child with helmet walking on a high ropes course among wooden platforms and wires, with a blue sky in the background.
Four boys wearing helmets and harnesses standing outdoors on grass with trees in the background.
Group of children sitting on wooden bleachers indoors, smiling and posing for the camera, with text projected on the wall behind them.
Four boys sitting inside a wooden structure. They are smiling and making peace signs with their hands.
Group of children and teenagers wearing helmets and riding bicycles outdoors in a park with green trees and cloudy sky in the background.
Two girls in life jackets sliding down an inflatable water slide into a lake, surrounded by trees.
A band performing live on stage with an audience in front, making heart shapes with their hands.
A group of young boys and teenagers are gathered together indoors, engaging in a group hug or handshake, wearing casual clothing including caps and t-shirts, with wooden walls in the background.
Children at a park playing bocce ball on a dirt court, surrounded by green trees.
A circular wooden plaque with a drawing of a heart pierced by a sword and a fire burning above it, mounted on a white pole outdoors at dusk or night.
Outdoor gathering with a lit lantern on a wooden surface in the foreground, a blurred crowd seated in the background, and trees with a sky during dusk. A person is standing near a red and white tent or structure.
A group of young people celebrating, raising their fists and smiling in a dimly lit indoor space.

Contact Us Today

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We would love to hear from you! If you have any questions about Prairie Star, our facilities, or our programs, please don't hesitate to reach out. Fill out the form below with your details, and a member of our ministry team will get back to you as soon as possible.