1950 - 1959
In the 1950s volunteers were still the mainstay of the Children's Outing Association. The first two full-time, year-round directors were hired, Bob Gilbert and Jerry Baer. The year-round director, camp caretaker, and a secretary in the Milwaukee office were the only members of the full-time paid staff. Counselors and specialists were hired for the summer only. Beyond that, the operation of the organization depended solely on volunteers.
In 1950, 3 1/2 acres to the south of the original Sidney Cohen site were purchased by Charles Ashley and donated to the camp. The additional property included a house and outbuildings. This donation increased the size of Camp Sidney Cohen to 9 1/2 acres and facilitated the growth of summer and year-round camping programs. Camp Sidney Cohen was conspicuous in the camping field for many years because it was directed almost entirely by volunteers. By 1953 an all-purpose recreation building was needed to accommodate the growing programs. Not only was the year-round program expanding, but the camp also had begun to experiment with providing programs for campers with special needs. Ten girls with Diabetes were enrolled that summer.
The recreation building, Harold Miller Lodge, was 41 years old and was costly to maintain. The lodge and other camp buildings were falling more and more out of compliance with safety and other standards relating to facilities for children's camps. A new facility was needed, one large enough to hold all campers in summer and able to be converted to dormitory use during the cold months.
The effects of the ever-expanding program were also felt in the Milwaukee administrative office. There was overcrowding and lack of privacy for the secretary and volunteer staff. In the fall of 1955, COA offices were moved from the Jewish Center to 2020 E. North Avenue, across from the First Wisconsin Bank on Farwell and above the old East Side Library. In addition to providing needed space for staff, the move demonstrated to all, the agency's independent status.
In 1954, the COA nominating committee broke tradition and allowed three men to be nominated for the corporation, stating, "It is our feeling that we can benefit from the thinking and the type of service which men can give." and after almost 50 years of operation, Byron Heinemann, Jerome Saltzstein, and Charles Ashley joined the ranks of the female-dominated corporation of the Children's Outing Association.
