Scenes from a nudist conference

In this fun video segment, HamptonRoads.tv's Brian J. Clark goes to an American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) nudist conference. The event talks place at Whitetail Resort in Ivor, Virgina. See what the resort and a nudist conference are like.

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Get Outside and Get Naked!

If you need a reason to try nude recreation, look no further.

The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS) are teaming up this summer to encourage Americans to take off their clothes during the annual Nude Recreation Week celebration, held July 9-15, 2007. Nude Recreation Week gives first-timers the chance to give clothes-free recreation a try at home or at one of the many AANR-affiliated clubs that open their doors to the public during this week.

• Nudist Beginnings Tip: I highly recommend trying it at home first. If you are a couple, make a date out of it and do a nude dinner at home. Strange at first, you will both be surprised how natural being naked feels. The awkwardness goes away eventually. It took my wife and I a while to get up the nerve to try nude dining at a nudist resort. Now, we won't pass up the opportunity.

“A national study* found that 15 percent of Americans are looking for a nude recreation experience; however, sometimes taking the initial 'plunge' can be difficult for newcomers,” John Kinman, President of AANR explained. “Nude Recreation Week gives the public an opportunity to try something new while at the same time allowing nudists across the country to celebrate the freedom of clothes free travel and recreation, in appropriate settings.”

This annual celebration is open for individuals - and families - to visit one of the hundreds of clothing-optional clubs affiliated with AANR or TNS, and experience firsthand one of the fastest growing trends in both travel and recreation. Many of the 267 AANR-affiliated clubs have activities and events planned throughout the week – such as open houses, “canude” nude canoing trips, sports and poker tournaments, “bare buns fun run,” health screenings, fine arts shows and more.

Or, for those looking to try something new in the comfort of their own home, AANR and TNS recommends these “fab five” activities:

1. Cool off: skinny dip in your backyard pool
2. Make housekeeping fun: shed those clothes, turn on some music and get out the mop
3. Get in touch with nature: garden nude
4. Exercise in the buff: hit the treadmill or dust off one of those workout videos
5. Telecommuting in the nude: working from home-- in the nude--is actually increasing in popularity!

• Nudist Beginnings Tip: Don't forget the beaches! There are some very nice beaches to visit. However, beaches are not as regulated (not gated) as a nudist organization affiliated resort.
  

“We would like to spend this National Nude Recreation Week celebrating the nude human form as inherently wholesome and natural,” explained Nicky Hoffman, President of TNS. “We realize that nude recreation may not be for everyone, but we urge you to give it a try. You just might like it!”

First-timers are invited to don their birthday suits at home or at a nudist resort and experience the personal liberation, stress-relief, and simple comfort of nudism.

AANR’s mission is to advocate for nudity in appropriate settings as well as educate, and inform the public about its value through ongoing membership growth. It is the oldest and largest organization of its kind, representing nearly 50,000 members and their families, who enjoy clothes-free recreation throughout North America. Nude recreation has experienced tremendous growth and popularity over the last several years and has become a $400 million niche segment within the travel industry.

For the club nearest you, and to find out more about its Nude Recreation Week schedule of events, log onto the association’s Web site at www.aanr.com, or call 1-800-TRY-NUDE.

Parties interested in visiting one of AANR’s clubs during Nude Recreation Week should call the resort in advance to make a reservation and find out the rules of the resort.

Related Links:
- American Association for Nude Recreation
- The Naturist Society:

*Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell/Yankelovich Partners 2006 National Leisure Travel Monitor

Nudist Myth Busting: "Crazy things go on during nude cruises"

Nope. True nudist/naturist cruises are not sex-charged places. They are human places. Nudist cruises are about real people on a cruise ship who just happen to be more comfortable without clothes. And with that, they form a common bond.


To get a feeling about what a nude cruise is really like, read the daily trip reports from a nudist aboard a Caribbean nude cruise with 1,200 other nudists.

There is one rule that must be followed for this nudist myth busting experiment to be true. The nudist cruise event must be held in positive regard by members of AANR, the International Naturist Federation, or any of the other wholesome nudism focused organizations, you can be assured the cruise is a good one.

When selecting a destination, reading the genuine nudist forums is a good place to start. A good one with a loyal following of "clothes-free people" is ClothesFree forums.

Nudist Myth Busted. Nude cruises provide a friendly, respectful vacation environment when properly selected.

Complete list of reasons to wear clothes

After hours of research on this April 1st, I am pleased to present the Complete List of Reasons to Wear Clothes:

1. Clothes are good when the weather is too cold to be comfortable.

2. Clothes are good for the safety of construction workers, race car drivers, etc.

3. Clothes are good for sterile environments like hospitals, medical labs, and research centers.

4. Clothes are good for graduation ceremonies (with nothing under the "cap and gown" required).

5. Clothes are good for religious ceremonies for symbolism.

There you have it, the complete list of 5 reasons. This was more difficult than I originally thought.

Competing with the 205 Arguments in Favor of Naturism appearing in The Naturist Society's (TNS) N magazine in 1996 is just not possible. The list of arguments was compiled by K. Bacher from various sources.

Here's a sample of the arguments:

15. Children are not born with any shame about nudity. They learn to be ashamed of their own nudity.

21. Many indigenous tribes go completely naked without shame, even today. It is only through extended contact with the "modern" world that they learn to be "modest."

29. Nudity is not, by itself, erotic, and nudity in mixed groups is not inherently sexual. These are myths propagated by a clothes -obsessed society. Sexuality is a matter of intent rather than state of dress.

33. Studies have demonstrated that countries with fewer hangups about nudity have lower teen pregnancy and abortion rates.

45. Naturism is the antithesis of pornography.

101. Clothing is produced by environmentally irresponsible processes from environmentally irresponsible sources.

205. One of the most important arguments in support of nudism is personal experience.

Nudist Rights Organizations: Naturist Action Committee

The Naturist Action Committee (NAC) is a non-profit political adjunct to The Naturist Society (TNS).

NAC is one of the organizations that works hard to preserve nudist freedom. NAC's mission:

"NAC exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. NAC supports the responsible recreational nude use of public lands."

One great tool NAC provides online is a guide to laws concerning naturist rights.

Local lawmakers, trying to do the best they can for the community, sometimes create ordinances in their towns in an effort to keep sexually-oriented adult entertainment clubs out of town or away from residential areas.  

Sometimes these laws have a negative impact on  non-sexually oriented naturist rights.   NAC is among the organizations that try to create awareness about how naturism is completely different and how lawmakers can be more accommodating.