History of CYJ Texas

The story of Camp Young Judaea can be called a story of faith, dedication, and perseverance — or, as we like to say, "When Dreams Come True."

How did CYJ start?

It began with one man, Rabbi Ammon Prero, who had the wisdom to choose three men to take his dream as their own: Harry Lipshy, Morris Shapiro, and Morris Wolf. All three were active members of the Zionist Organization of America, and all three agreed with Rabbi Prero that a Jewish camp should be built where children from across the region could learn more about Judaism and Israel.

They also agreed on something just as important: no child would ever be refused admission because their parents couldn't afford to send them. That principle is baked into camp's DNA to this day.

With money borrowed from a bank and donations from concerned Jews around the state, Camp Young Judaea began in 1952.

Where did camp start out?

Back then, about 100 kids from around Texas trekked every summer to a facility in Center Point, Texas, rented from a camp called "Camp Christian." No air conditioning, no water slides — just the basics (and, one imagines, a lot of very sweaty campers). But from the very beginning, CYJ-Texas forged a family of young Jewish campers with a lasting emotional connection to others who shared their passion for Israel.

How did camp grow into what it is today?

Camp kept growing, and in 1971 — thanks largely to a matching fund bequest of $100,000 from the will of Ben G. Barnett — Camp Young Judaea obtained its present location. Today, CYJ's 26 cabins sit atop 240 acres in the Hill Country of Woodcreek, Texas. We now welcome over 700 summer campers and reach almost five thousand people through year-round retreats.

What's shaped CYJ's culture over the years?

From the Zionist Organization of America in our early years, and continuing with Hadassah until 2008, loving and honoring the State of Israel has always been a priority. That's shown up in the CYJ culture every camper knows: Hebrew music, Rikudei Am (Israeli dancing), arts, kosher food, and sports like ga-ga, basketball, and soccer — the bedrock of every summer. Electives have expanded over time too, now including photography, videography, mad science, cooking, pool games, and newscasting.

None of this could have happened without generations of staff, donors, campers, and parents — from the United States, Canada, Israel, and Mexico — who have sustained CYJ-Texas for decades.

What does that legacy look like today?

Many of today's campers are the children of alumni who remember their own time at CYJ as an impactful, meaningful step toward growing into Jewish adults. Camp's relationship-building runs deep — including at least 30 marriages between couples who first connected here.

What's CYJ's mission?

Since 1952, Camp Young Judaea-Texas has provided a supportive, dynamic environment where Jewish youth can explore, grow, and mature. Through experiences designed to build a lifetime commitment to Judaism and Israel, CYJ-Texas fulfills its mission: to educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of its campers.