Childrens Outing Assn

CHILDREN'S OUTING ASSOCIATION/COA YOUTH & FAMILY CENTERS (COA) HELPS MILWAUKEE CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES REACH THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH ITS RIVERWEST AND GOLDIN COMMUNITY CENTERS, SEVEN COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS AND AT COA'S RURAL CAMP FACILITY. AS A MULTICULTURAL AGENCY, COA VALUES DIVERSITY AND COOPERATION AND PROMOTES PERSONAL GROWTH AND POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: COA YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTERS OFFERS NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS THROUGH 12 YEARS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE MULTICULTURAL AND NONSECTARIAN, AND FEES ARE DETERMINED BASED ON FAMILY INCOME. ALL PROGRAMS PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, CARE, AND NURTURING, FOCUSING ON A CHILD'S HEALTHY PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: COA'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVES A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR AREA YOUTH AGES 4 THROUGH 17(18 IF STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL). ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER AND WEEKEND PROGRAMMING; SPECIAL GROUPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, PRETEENS AND TEENS; ATHLETICS AND FIELD TRIPS; AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING COMPUTERS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, CREATIVE WRITING, HOMEWORK HELP AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES. COA'S GOLDIN SUMMER DAY CAMPS OFFER BOYS AND GIRLS AGE 6 THROUGH 12 SUMMER DAY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, FIELD TRIPS AND MUCH MORE. PROGRAMS OPERATE AT COA'S RIVERWEST CENTER AND GOLDIN CENTER; AT COA'S COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS LOCATED AT OW HOLMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AUER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LINCOLN CENTER OF THE ARTS, HOPKINS-LLOYD COMMUNITY SCHOOL, DOERFLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND WESTSIDE ACADEMY.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: COA YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTERS IS A VALUABLE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. THE AGENCY PARTNERS WITH THE HUNGER TASK FORCE AND THE MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING TO PROVIDE PEDIATRIC AND FAMILY CARE (AT THE COA GOLDIN CENTER), OFFERS ADULT BASIC EDUCATION, AND PROVIDES FACILITY RENTALS OF THE RIVERWEST CENTER AND GOLDIN CENTER GYMNASIUMS AND MEETING ROOMS. THROUGH ITS LONG-TERM LEASE OF KILBOURN PARK AND KADISH PARKS WITH THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, COA OPERATES KILBOURN AND KADISH PARK AND PROVIDES RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THROUGH ITS LEASE WITH MILWAUKEE COUNTY, COA PROVIDES RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MOODY PARK, ADJACENT TO COA'S GOLDIN CENTER.

INCLUDE: FAMILY CENTERED PROGRAMS: COA PROVIDES FAMILY PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE ROSE AND HARRY SAMSON FAMILY CENTER (LOCATED AT COA'S RIVERWEST CENTER), THE ETHEL NUTIS GILL FAMILY CENTER (AT COA'S GOLDIN CENTER), AND AT 7 SCHOOLS. THESE SERVICES SEEK TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES THROUGH PARENTING EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS, PEER DISCUSSION GROUPS AND FAMILY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES. PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (AGES 3 TO 5) MAY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN COA'S HOME INSTRUCTION FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL YOUNGSTERS (HIPPY), A LOCAL PROGRAM BASED ON A NATIONAL MODEL WHICH FOCUSES ON HELPING PARENTS TO BECOME THEIR CHILDREN'S PRIMARY TEACHERS. COA'S FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRATED INTO OTHER PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.CAMPING/CONFERENCE CENTER: EACH SUMMER COA OPERATES CAMPING PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION. BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 8 THROUGH 15 ATTEND COA'S CAMP HELEN BRACHMAN, LOCATED ON 206 ACRES IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN NEAR STEVEN'S POINT. THIRTEEN DAY SESSIONS INCLUDE WATER AND FIELD SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MUSIC, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, TEAM-BUILDING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND OVERNIGHT CAMP-OUTS. COA'S GOLDIN SUMMER DAY CAMP OFFERS BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 7 THROUGH 12 SUMMER DAY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GAMES, SWIMMING, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND MUCH MORE. FEES ARE BASED ON FAMILY INCOME. IN ADDITION TO SUMMER CAMPS, COA OFFERS YEAR-ROUND YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES, FAMILY CAMPS AND WINTER CAMPS. WHEN COA PROGRAMS ARE NOT IN SESSION, THE CAMP RETREAT CENTER IS RENTED TO GROUPS FOR RETREATS, CONFERENCES, STAFF TRAININGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.