Dress Code

My best packing tip, free of charge: don't buy anything new for camp. Let camp be the place where your kid's old, slightly-too-small, "I don't even like this shirt anymore" clothes go to have one last glorious, mud-covered summer before they disappear forever. Nobody at CYJ is judging outfits — the raccoons rummaging through the lost and found bin, maybe, but not us.

What does a typical day look like?

Very informal. Think simple clothes that can get dirty, sweaty, and generally destroyed — because they will. Shorts, t-shirts, whatever survives a day of sports, art, ropes, and swimming in the Texas heat.

Hats are mandatory, every day. If your camper loses theirs (and someone always does), we'll provide a replacement — for a fee, charged to your account. Same goes for water bottles. Consider this your gentle nudge to label the hat, or just accept the fee as a small tax on summer chaos.

What about Shabbat?

The one time a week we clean up a little:

  • Friday evening: dress up, but nothing fancy — a polo shirt or sundress does the trick. No heels (see below for why).

  • Saturday morning: white t-shirts are tradition. Bring at least 2 — trust me, one will not survive the whole summer looking presentable.

What's not allowed?

A short list, for good reason:

  • Clothing promoting tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or sex — in any language. We've caught this loophole before.

  • High heels — genuinely an ankle-injury risk on our terrain. This isn't a fashion opinion, it's a liability one.

  • Two-piece bathing suits — one-piece or tankini only.

  • Sheer or revealing clothing

  • Strapless dresses

  • Skirts shorter than fingertip length

Bottom line?

Pack clothes you won't cry over losing. If it survives the summer, great. If it doesn't, well — that's what old clothes are for.

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