QUICKFACTS

Sam and Susan Torn, owners, have dedicated their lives to serving today’s youth by providing industry-leading summer camp experiences, and Camp OTX continues this tradition of excellence.  Sam and Susan’s son, Chris, along with his wife, Ceci, are the directors of Camp OTX and bring a wealth of experience and innovation from both the camping and business world.

Each camper has the opportunity to select from over 75 Morning Activity classes and will receive a unique, individualized schedule. Morning Activities are primarily designed for campers to learn or improve upon a skill from one day to the next. Each scheduled Morning Activity generally meets once daily, Monday through Thursday, with a total of three activity periods each day.

At Camp OTX, it is our goal to create a secure environment for your child. Camp OTX goes to great lengths to ensure our staff is properly screened during the application and interview process and then thoroughly trained so that your child will be surrounded by the finest young Christian role models that colleges around Texas and beyond  have to offer. Each new applicant is required to submit at least 4 references. We run a criminal background check on each staff member every year.  

Your child’s safety is our number one priority while he or she attends Camp OTX.  our safety standards are designed to meet or exceed the requirements of the American Camp Association. While Camp OTX cannot completely eliminate the possibility of a child becoming ill or being injured while at Camp OTX, we do recognize that before the “camp experience” can be anything else to the child, it must be a secure environment for the child to learn and grow. That is why we, at Camp OTX, thoroughly train our staff and employ stringent safety and health standards.

We have a complete Health Center on our property, staffed by at least 2 registered nurses. (Susan Torn is a registered nurse who has practiced camp nursing for over 25 years). Systematic, regular evaluations and inspections of activities, equipment, facilities, and modes of transportation to ensure that they are functioning with the intention to meet or exceed the requirements of the American Camp Association. All summer staff are trained and certified by the American Red Cross in CPR/First Aid. In addition, staff are trained to handle and operate AED’s (Artificial Electronic Defibulators).

Every session is staffed by a licensed, on-site Primary Care Provider and at least 2 Registered Nurses who live in our Health Center. The Primary Care Provider is available for any illnesses or emergencies that might occur. Should your child become ill or injured while at Camp OTX, parents will be timely notified at the sole discretion of the Camp OTX Medical Staff, if such notification is warranted. The nursing staff administers routine medications, treats minor illnesses and injuries, and promotes preventative measures at the Camp OTX Health Center. 

The Camp OTX Health Center is equipped to handle most minor emergencies. If necessary, emergency assistance is available from a clinic in Bandera, TX, and hospitals in Kerrville and San Antonio.  All campers who are off-site are accompanied by a staff member. All summer staff are trained and certified by the American Red Cross in CPR/First Aid.

Campers who have any type of allergy, whether food, drug, environmental or other, must notify Camp OTX via the Health Section on their My OTX Dashboard before the camper’s session begins. The Allergy Section of the Health Registration must be completed indicating the allergen, the reaction, and the treatment if exposure occurs. If the camper has a potentially life-threatening allergy, a black band will be placed on their wrist upon their arrival, identifying the allergy on the band. Campers with food allergies will receive a yellow band with the food allergen listed.  Food allergies must be discussed with the Food Services Director in advance of the session to plan alternatives. Supplemental foods may be requested to be provided by the camper’s parent.

Camp OTX facilitates the mandatory service of pre-packing campers’ medication in preparation for camp. The nurses dispense the medications at all meal times and at bedtime. For exceptions, please contact us or send us an email.

All two-week campers are screened during the middle weekend for any health issues that may need attention. The medical staff checks the campers for general cleanliness, sores or rashes that need attention or referral to our Camp Physician for further investigation and treatment.

One week campers 10 years old or younger have their health check during the latter part of their stay at camp. The medical staff checks the campers for general cleanliness, sores or rashes that need attention or referral to our Camp Physician for further investigation and treatment.

Campers may opt out of the Health and Wellness Check upon a parents written request, however, in that case the medical staff may not know if the camper has a health issue that needs immediate attention.

Camp OTX firmly believes all campers deserve to have a premier camp experience, and, while rare, any camper behavior that negatively affects the experience of others should be addressed in a decisive and timely fashion. Camp OTX has developed a system of Camper Monitoring designed to prevent, identify, and resolve camper behavior issues.

Annually, the Red Cross certifies designated summer staff as lifeguards at Camp OTX. All Waterpark  activities are monitored by certified lifeguards. All campers are required to wear life jackets while participating in most water activities at Camp OTX, with the exception of controlled lap swimming, some waterslides, and the pool. If a camper fails his/her swim test, he/she will be required to wear a life jacket at all times.

Camp OTX serves a well balanced, kid friendly menu that features “scratch cooking” at all three meals. In addition, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner Market Fresh line consisting of healthy food options is available for those campers not choosing the main hot food line. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fresh fruit, and garden salads are also available during most meals.

The Camper Care Program is an integral part of camp and is designed to help make the OTX experience truly incomparable for campers and their families. Among the many facets of Camper Care is the Camp Mom team. Camp Moms serve as a mom away from home and help make the transition from home to Camp as smooth as possible.

All first time camper families receive a telephone call from one of the Camp Moms within the first few days of the campers stay. This first year camper call gives a status report including the camper’s cabin, team, how the camper is adjusting, and the camper’s favorite activities so far. Our Incomparable Top Staff assist the Camp Moms in collecting information from your camper and their counselors to provide families with a timely update.

Camp OTX offers fully staffed luxury charter bus service from Houston, Austin, and San Antonio when demand is sufficient. Several of our camp families take advantage of this extremely economical and convenient travel option. Also, it is a great way to kick-off the camp experience as campers meet new friends and connect with the OTX staff on the trip. View options from a city near you on your My OTX dashboard.

With 260 flight arrivals and departures each day, the San Antonio International Airport provides non-stop jet service to 27 national/international gateway cities. Parents may book flights in conjunction with Camp OTX’s pick-up and drop-off windows. Upon arrival, all campers are greeted by Camp OTX Staff and escorted to our staffed shuttle for transport to Camp OTX. Camp OTX offers staffed shuttle service to and from the San Antonio International Airport. Camp OTX luggage personnel are on hand to load luggage once identified by each camper at the baggage claim.

For camp families arriving via private aircraft, Kerrville Municipal Airport offers a convenient option for arrival and departure. Camp OTX offers shuttle service for all camp families arriving at the Kerrville Municipal Airport for arrival and departure. For more information on these options, log in to My OTX.

Parents have the ability to set up email packages to allow email communication to their camper. Emails will be printed and delivered to the camper’s cabin mailbox through this one-way messaging system. 

Postcards from your camper and his or her counselor will be sent electronically to your My OTX dashboard.  

In order to fully experience Camp OTX, campers are not allowed to bring cell phones or other mobile communication or transmittable devices (like iPads, iPods, Apple watches, etc.) to camp, nor are campers allowed to receive or make telephone calls, text, or email while in attendance at Camp OTX. Parents should feel free to contact a Camp Mom if they need to discuss something related to their child or contact the camp office or Camp Director in case of emergency.