1906 - 1929
In 1906, Mrs Elizabeth Kander and a determined group of Jewish women founded The Personal Relief Society, the precursor of the Children's Outing Association. Mrs Eugene Friend, a leading spirit, recruited members, who, in the first year of its activity, took eight Jewish children to the Tent Colony of the Mission Kindergarten in Whitewater for the fresh air and sunshine.
Each year Mrs. Kander would see that as many needy children as possible were able to attend the Fresh Air Camp and would personally visit them throughout the summer to ensure they received good food, learned good manners, and thrived in the fresh air.
In 1909, the Children's Outing Society, as it was renamed, acquired four acres of land on the Milwaukee River near Thiensville and established the Fresh Air Camp. This camp was often referred to as the "Home." By 1923, 300 children were enjoying the Fresh Air Camp in summer. In June and September the "Home" was kept open for Jewish "shut-ins" and for working girls and mothers with babies.
It became clear that the facilities at Thiensville had become inadequate and that larger quarters were needed. The Society began looking for a new camp site and in 1928, the Thiensville property was sold to the Boder family for a restaurant.
