Family Owned & Operated
Since 1985, the Torn family has invested their lives into creating an incomparable camp experience and environment for kids.
The Torn Family
SERVING 1 MISSION
The Torns believe firmly that the Lord has blessed them with amazing staff, driven by purpose and committed to the mission of serving kids. Each of the three summer camp environments created by the Torns have been meticulously planned to blend incomparable natural beauty and scenery with the most diverse and exciting camp programming in America. Whether it be creating new and innovative ways for kids to have a total blast, perfecting the customer experience, providing quality health care, washing dishes or re-stocking the store, each of the three generations of Torns are fully invested in making the experience incomparable.
Our goal is for each and every child and each and every staff member to feel like family. We know for many families, the summer camp experience is transformative for their children. We love creating places where kids can be kids. Where they can learn to laugh, sing, run, and play. Where they can be goofy, silly, and crazy. Where they can learn, mature, and grow. Where they can make a friend, be a friend, and keep a friend. It’s why we do what we do. There is no place we would rather be than leading an amazing staff who seek to make a real impact on kids. See you this summer!
SCOTT TORN
Director, Camp Ozark
Since 2012, Scott has served as the Executive Operating Director of Camp Ozark where he serves and leads 70 full time staff, over 1,000 summer staff and several thousand campers and camp families. In addition, Scott serves as the Executive Managing Director of Torn Family Camps, managing and leading business services and organizational strategy for Camp Ozark, Camp OTX and providing support services to Camp War Eagle. In addition, Scott serves on the Board of the Camp Ozark Foundation. Scott spends his summer leading the Torn Family's Flagship camp - Incomparable Camp Ozark.
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SCOTT TORN
Met & Married
Scott met the love of his life playing basketball in Staff Orientation during the summer of 1992. His early dates with Secily included countless basketball games at camp, jogging "Ginny Lane" on the Ozark trails and plenty of sunsets on beautiful Lake Ouachita. Secily, originally from Amarillo, TX, was a multi sport all district standout from Amarillo High. Secily and Scott began dating in the fall of 1992 and were married in September of 1996.
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SCOTT TORN
Early Years
Scott spent his formative years at Camp Ozark. In the early years, Scott attended Family Week with his extended family. His first summer as a camper was 1983. In 1985, his parent's Sam & Susan, purchased the assets of Camp Ozark and never looked back. In 1985, Camp Ozark had 22 cabins and around 300 campers. At age 12, Scott served as a dishwasher and later worked on the maintenance team. Scott was a 5 Year camper and later served as Head of the Lake Crew and Head Boy's Counselor. During the early years, Scott was sponge, from his father he learned how to be bold, have the highest standard and do things better than they have been done before. From his mother, he learned humility and service to others. From both, he learned how to work hard, how to build trust through servant leadership and how to trust the Lord with all of it.
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SCOTT TORN
Texas A&M
Scott loves Texas A&M University. Scott graduated from Texas A&M in 1995. While at A&M Scott was a member of the Corps of Cadets. Scott served as Executive Officer of his outfit, Company F-2. Scott was elected both Junior and Senior Yell Leader and later appointed Head Yell Leader. Scott also served as Ross Volunteer and was awarded with the Buck Weirus Spirit Award and Distinguished Student award. Scott and Secily are proud Aggie parent's with Sam '23, Jack '25, Tucker '28 and Anna Scott '30 all attending Texas A&M.
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SCOTT TORN
Young Professional
After graduating from Texas A&M, Scott attended Law School and received his JD in the spring of 1999. Scott then took a job in commercial real estate in Houston with Insite Realty Partners. After serving at Insite Scott and his partners formed a boutique real estate advisory company which was later acquired by Julien J. Studley (now Savills US), a National full service real estate advisory company. In 2006, after lengthy prayer and consideration, Scott and Secily decided to step back into the family business. The mission of Camp Ozark and knowing their kids would spend their formative years in a unique and special environment were they key drivers for the change.
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SCOTT TORN
2012
After spending 5 years learning each facet of the mission and business, Scott moved to Operating Director of Camp Ozark. Scott's personal mission was to honor the legacy of the the founders but prepare for the future. At the time, Camp Ozark stood on a solid foundation with over 4,500 campers and 400 staff members, including around 30 permanent staff. Today, Scott oversees 70 permanent staff, over 1,000 summer staff and close to 7,500 campers. Scott is most proud of the people who make Camp Ozark incomparable. A dedicate staff who believe in the Ozark Mission and believe in the Torn Family philosophy of continuous improvement, incomparable camp programming and unwavering faith in the Lord's guidance and provision.
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SCOTT TORN
3rd Gen
All of Scott and Secily's children spent their formative years at Camp Ozark and also served camp in a variety of capacities including junior staff, counselor, maintenance, food services, retail services, lake crew and Top Staff. Each of them loves camp and loves the mission of camp. Passing the values of hard work, valuing people and loving through serving are part and parcel of the Torn Family Legacy
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ANGELA TORN SHAW
Director, Camp Ozark
Angela brings unparalleled experience and perspective to Camp Ozark. Having served in so many different roles – camper, kitchen crew, summer staff member, summer leadership, mom, and more – Angela is uniquely suited to see camp from all angles. Additionally, Angela is fiercely competitive (just ask her brothers!), which is borne out in her commitment to make each and every area of camp the best it can be. Angela is tireless in her pursuit of excellence, and is fully committed to leaving no stone unturned in order to provide the safest and most enjoyable camp experience possible.
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SCOTT TORN
Director, Camp Ozark
After spending 5 years learning each facet of the mission and business, Scott moved to Operating Director of Camp Ozark. Scott's personal mission was to honor the legacy of the the founders but prepare for the future. At the time, Camp Ozark stood on a solid foundation with over 4,500 campers and 400 staff members, including around 30 permanent staff. Today, Scott oversees 70 permanent staff, over 1,000 summer staff and close to 7,500 campers. Scott is most proud of the people who make Camp Ozark incomparable. A dedicate staff who believe in the Ozark Mission and believe in the Torn Family philosophy of continuous improvement, incomparable camp programming and unwavering faith in the Lord's guidance and provision.
SAM & SUSAN TORN
FOUNDERS, Camp Ozark
Sam and Susan Torn have been the owners of Camp Ozark since 1985 and were in charge of day-to-day operations until 2012. However, Sam’s association with Camp Ozark began much earlier. Sam first came to Camp Ozark (then known as Ozark Boys Camp) in 1951 at the age of three with his family. He later spent five summers as a camper at Ozark Boys Camp and six summers as a counselor before he married Susan. Sam and Susan have been married since 1970 and they have three children – Scott, Chris, and Angela – who are all part of camp staff. Currently, Sam and Susan split their time in the summer between Camp Ozark and Camp OTX and during the offseason primarily enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, numbering 14 in total.
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SAM & SUSAN TORN
FOUNDING YEARS
Susan and Sam Torn acquired the assets of Camp Ozark on January 2nd, 1985 and immediately established the mindset of incomparable excellence in all areas regardless of cost or required effort. Upon acquisition, Susan and Sam immediately instituted a massive overhaul of all aspects of camp including the creation of individualized activity schedules, a structured free time activity time each afternoon (Mish Mash), Team competition including the Ultimate Solution, creative Special Events, high energy worship services, unique middle weekend programming, quality food service and unparalleled customer service.
SAM & SUSAN TORN
OZARK BOYS CAMP
Sam has a long history with Camp Ozark, first attending family week with his family in 1951, then as a camper and staff member at Ozark Boys Camp beginning in 1959.
SAM & SUSAN TORN
MARRIAGE
Sam has a long history with Camp Ozark, first attending family week with his family in 1951, then as a camper and staff member at Ozark Boys Camp beginning in 1959.
SAM & SUSAN TORN
SECOND GENERATION
Since 1985, the Torn family has dedicated their lives to creating a premier camp environment and experience for kids. The Torns believe firmly the lord has blessed them with amazing staff, driven by purpose and committed to the mission of serving kids. Each of the three summer camp environments created by the Torns have been meticulously planned to blend premier natural beauty and scenery with the most diverse and exiting camp programming in America.
SAM & SUSAN TORN
3RD GENERATION
Sam and Susan have 14 grandchildren, of whom one is in heaven (Torn Shaw) and one who joined the family in 7th grade (Kaiya) when the Scott Torn family became her guardians. Each of their grandchildren spent their formative years at Camp Ozark and Camp OTX, and each also served or will serve in various capacities, including maintenance, food services, retail services, junior staff, counselor, and Top Staff. All of the Torn's natural grandchildren are charged with honoring the past and preparing for the future, holding tight to the values and Christian faith espoused by their grandparents.
Executive Leadership
With over 300 years of combined experience, the Camp Ozark Executive Leadership Team sets the standard for camp operations and leadership. Living at camp during the summer, they oversee all aspects of the camp program and operation while providing strong leadership for the rest of the staff.
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Leadership
The Camp Ozark Leadership Team spends 365 days a year planning, preparing, and evaluating all aspects of the program to ensure our campers have an incomparable experience. During the summer, this team is directly involved in day-to-day operations of the camp program.
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Recruiters
Driven by passion and purpose, our highly trained recruiters conduct over 2,800 interviews as they seek to find those individuals who meet Camp Ozark’s high standards.
