Parents are responsible for booking their camper’s flight, unless you are part of a group flight.
Opening Day: Both session 1 and 2 flights should arrive at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) between 9:00 am-11:00 am CT. A CYJ staff member will meet them at the airport and will accompany them up to camp. We will be providing sack lunches for our fliers as they will be traveling long distances. Please send them with additional kosher, nut free snacks for the long day.
If your child is flying international, you are encouraged to have them arrive 1 day before into Chicago, Illinois. We will help find a family to host them.
A CYJ Midwest staff member will meet all flights. If your child is flying with a chaperoned flight, the staff member will meet the group at baggage claim. If your child is flying as an unaccompanied minor, a CYJ Midwest staff member will meet them at the gate. CYJ Midwest will provide you with the staff member’s name and phone number via email 24 hours before camp begins. All CYJ staff at the airport will be wearing a CYJ t-shirt.
- Buses will transport campers to and from the airport on arrival and departure day.
- In case of emergency, make sure that your child has the following camp telephone number and instruct him/her to call camp, 224-235-4665.
- Each camper should bring an additional $25 for their return trip home. All money will be held in the camp safe until closing day.
- Please pack kosher prepared nut-free snack(s) for the long hours of traveling. Additional snacks will be provided on the bus rides to and from camp.
- Campers may bring cell phones and electronics for their flight, but they will be stored in the camp safe until closing day. All electronics will be charged before the camper’s flight as long as the camper has stored the charger in the safe.
- Unaccompanied minor and baggage fees: Please make arrangements to pre-pay the round trip unaccompanied minor fee and baggage fee to the airline. If not, CYJ Midwest will charge the parent’s credit card to cover the fees.
LICE Testing: If your child tests positive for lice during check in at camp, they will undergo a hair treatment and $185 will be charged to your payment preference.
LEAVING CAMP: Full session campers flying home will take a bus directly to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) from CYJ Midwest. Before leaving camp, CYJ will check all campers in and print off their boarding passes. A CYJ staff member will accompany them inside, help them get their luggage checked and stay with them until all flights are in the air. If a group is being chaperoned, our CYJ staff member will meet up with the chaperone, make sure they have all of the boarding passes and other information and will help them through security. The CYJ staff member will make sure the chaperone has their cell phone number in case of an emergency.
Both session flights should depart from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) between 3pm – 5pm CT.
*We strongly suggest sending your camper with their cell phone and charger. We will charge their phone the night before they depart, so they can reach you while they travel.
PLEASE NOTE: We are not providing any transportation to/from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) except for international or day before bus arrivals.
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