 LYNN KENT -
Owner
Lynn Kent is also a native of the Westerly area, and a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, as well as the other parent of the five grown Kent children. Her adult years in Rhode Island have been spent largely as a full-time volunteer for the arts, and her local interest in historic preservation has been centered on the 1886 former church that is now the George Kent Performance Hall in Westerly, recognized as a National Historic Building, and the home of the Chorus of Westerly,. She has been a recipient of the Jefferson Award for Community Service.
Since the purchase of Camp Ogontz by the Kents in 1993, Lynn has been able to concentrate on the historic preservation of the camp, which dates back to 1916. She is a creative innovator who has, with her family and friends, striven mightily to preserve not only the camp’s many facilities, but also the spirit of the lakeside Camp Ogontz, and to return it to its prior eminence as a sought-after summer destination.
For many years, until her recent retirement from the position, she managed, developed, and was the moving spirit behind Westerly’s Blue Mitten Thrift Shop, whose slogan is “Keep Westerly Singing!” This organization was founded in 1965 to fund the annual Christ Church Children’s Choir Camp, which remains its mission. However, under years of Lynn’s successful management, the mission was enlarged greatly to also cover contributions to the operating expenses of the Chorus of Westerly, as well as to cover contributions of goods to other local not-for-profit entities. Lynn is a Chorus of Westerly singer, when she is not at camp in New Hampshire. |
 GEORGE E. KENT -
Owner and Artistic Director
George Kent, Camp Ogontz Artistic Director, and his wife, Lynn, are the owners of Camp Ogontz. He is a native of the Westerly, Rhode Island area. In 1959 he founded the Chorus of Westerly, and serves to this day as its Artistic Director and conductor for its 200 singers, ages eight to 84. He and Lynn have led the Chorus of Westerly on three tours abroad, two to Great Britain and one to Italy. His avocation, while at home in Rhode Island, is as a lobster fisherman.
He is Professor of Music at the University of Rhode Island, and was for some years the Music Director of the University Chorus. He is organist and choirmaster of Christ Church, Westerly, a position he has held since his undergraduate years at URI. From 1969 to 1985, he also toured, recorded, and presented concerts and workshops in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. For 15 years he was Associate Conductor and then Acting Music Director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1996, he was the recipient of a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) from the General Theological Seminary. Some of the other honors and awards he has received over the years include the State of Rhode Island’s Governor’s Arts Award (1988), a Lifetime Achievement Award from Choral Arts, New England (1999), and a 2003 Outstanding Alumni Award from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, from which he received his Master’s Degree. The prestigious Pell Award for achievement in the arts was presented to him in 2005. |
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- SUMMER OGONTZ STAFF -
Ogontz has an incredible team of interns who handle a large part of its day to day operations. This small but hard working group includes high school and college age staff who learn an amazing amount in categories from cooking and cleaning to painting and construction. All of our staff demonstrate spectacular leadership abilities and wonderful customer service skills. If you are interested in joining our staff please call 603.838.2462.
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- VOLUNTEERS -
Ogontz runs on a volunteer basis. Each group in session asks each of its campers to help out with small chores for 30 minutes a day. These chores include things such as helping with food prep and sweeping meeting spaces. Working in this manner makes everyone feel at home and part of the Ogontz family. It also provides a chance for participants to socialize with each other and with the Ogontz Staff. Many generous people enjoy this so much that they come back at other points in the summer season to help us out and volunteer for other groups. Ogontz would not be able to run without the kindness and support of all its volunteers.
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