Opening Day

Opening Day:

On Opening Day each session, we get hundreds of campers checked in, checked for lice and temperature, and introduced to their counselors and bunkmates in just a few hours time. It sounds like a lot to do, but it gives us all afternoon to get settled and start the fun of getting to know camp and each other.  

All campers will be dropped off by car on Opening Day. We have an arrival window from 11 am to 2 pm, and we ask that all campers be dropped off during this time. For our campers flying in from out of state, we will have an airport shuttle to pick them up and bring them to camp on Opening Day. Please schedule any flights TO camp on Opening Day to arrive between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. If that is not possible, please coordinate with us BEFORE you book your flights. Read more about traveling to camp by plane. 

When you drive through the CYJ gates, you'll begin the drive-through check-in process. You'll make your first stop at the lice checks, where all campers' heads will be checked for lice, and they will get their temperature taken. After passing the lice check and temperature screening, you will move on to the camper drop-off and luggage unloading zone. This is also where you can drop off your camper’s medicine and meet the medical team if necessary. Staff will be there to help move your luggage, so you and your family can head into camp and enjoy our new and exciting Opening Day family activities.

This summer, we invite all our families to join us for Opening Day! We will have various family activities throughout camp that we encourage you to participate in. This is a great way to check out the facilities, enjoy our programming, and help settle any first-day jitters. We will also serve lunch from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in our Chadar Ochel (dining room), which families can enjoy together. 

During the family activities, we ask that parents/guardians NOT enter their campers’ bunks. There will be plenty of time for the campers to unpack their belongings and get settled later in the day with the help of their counselors. We want you to use your time at camp to participate in the activities, eat, and enjoy yourself, not worry about where David is going to store his socks! And although we’d love to say hi to your dogs, please leave any family pets or other furry friends at home. 

*Remember that our Nitzanim (10-day) and Mini Mensch (3 day) campers will have different dates for drop off and/or pick up. Click here to check the dates of your child's introductory camper experience!

For those of you who must know and can't wait to enjoy CYJ with your kids, see the plan.

1. Check In and don’t forget to grab your Book of Records!
2. Get Your Camp Spirit with face paint, tattoos, sunglasses and/or hair color.
3. Maccabiah Practice Zone - Let’s get ready!
4. Sit back and relax on the hayride tour of camp.
5. Get Your Dance On!! Once a week just isn’t enough so let’s do some rikud dancing now!
6. Take a quick trip to little Israel and learn a little about what you can find there.
7. 1 Million - yep, 1 MILLION - come feast your eyes on 1 Million Lincoln Logs!
8. Let Me Hear Your Lion Roar or at least let’s get a picture of it at our lion photo booth. 
9. CYJ in the Kitchen means snack time!
10. Come play our BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC games! Massive pizza toss, horseshoes and more!
11. Let’s Make Something - art is about creating and let’s see what you can create.
12. Choose your Chugim (Electives) you want to be a part of this summer at the Chugim Shuk!
13. Lunch time in the Chadar Ochel - yum!
14. Cluck, Cluck come and visit our new feathered friends at their fluffy butt hut.
15. Splish Splash it’s hot outside! Get wet or don’t but come enjoy the water activities.
16. Get Your Game On at the sports pavilion!
17. It’s going to explode!!! That’s right we will be exploding watermelons! 

Want to get the whole travel picture? Read up on Closing Day too.

See y'all soon!