1930 - 1939
At a Board meeting in October 1928, a motion was made by Mrs. Sidney Cohen that the Children's Outing Society purchase the Michael Cudahy property on Lake Nemahbin for a new camp. In November, the Society secretary read a communication from Mrs. Cohen saying the six-acre property would be a gift from her in memory of her husband, with the proviso that the new Jewish camp would be named "Camp Sidney Cohen."
Before the new camp opened for that first season, seven screened cabins and three tents were built to augment the large frame house that was on the site. Volunteer members of COA were busy making curtains and purchasing uniforms and bathing suits. Visiting days were established on alternating Mondays. Everything needed to be in order for the first group of children to attend the new camp. That first year, the usual order of sending children "first girls, then boys" was reversed. Boys would go first to help clean up the grounds; the girls would go to later sessions.
Each morning the campers lined up at the pump to drink a cup of iron water before they were allowed to eat breakfast. Swimmers were identified by the color of their bathing caps that were either red, white, or blue. Of course, the boys objected strongly to wearing these caps. Weight gain records from the previous summer showed that some children were losing weight, and all rations were doubled during the new season. That first summer 149 girls and 136 boys attended camp.
In the early years, counselors were usually college students and many were related to or friends of Association members. Male counselors were required to wear uniforms of white pants and sleeveless undershirts. The women wore shorts and blouses.
