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 Posted - 06/19/2003 : 08:55:42 AM
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From the NYTimes.com - June 19th, 2003
Old Enough to Make a Lanyard, and to Do It Nude
By KATE ZERNIKE
LUTZ, Fla., June 12 — On the third-to-last day of summer camp, the temperature has risen to 98 degrees, and even the troupers have begun to whine.
"I don't want to play strip volleyball!" complained Jane Jeffries, 13, her sunburned shoulders sagging. "I want to play regular volleyball."
Halie Nelson, 14, agreed, "Yeah, I'd rather get all the clothes off, and keep all the clothes off."
Here at the Youth Leadership Camp run by the American Association for Nude Recreation, the dress code for regular volleyball — and for the pudding toss, mini-golf and campfire sing-alongs — is the same as it is for skinny dipping.
Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times
Jane Jeffries, 13, who says she prefers nude
volleyball to strip volleyball, preparing to camp
out at the Lake Como Resort in Land O'Lakes, Fla.
Basking in what nudist organizations say is a growing interest in nude recreation, the association has begun a nationwide expansion of summer camps for nudists age 11 to 18. The first began here 10 years ago, in a county north of Tampa known for its concentration of nudist resorts. In 2000, the association opened its second camp in Arizona.
A third is to open outside Richmond, Va., this month, and organizers in Texas are planning a fourth camp there for the summer of 2005.
Naked summer camp might strike non-nudists as illegal or prurient, or like striking a match to the gasoline of adolescent hormones.
Anti-nudity statutes in Florida and other states, however, say that nudity on private property is perfectly legal, even among minors, as long as there is no lewdness. And camp rules, drawn up by campers themselves a few years ago, guard against that. "Do not allow nudity and lust to mingle," they state. "No improper touch. Nudity must not be humiliating, degrading or promote ridicule." Even the occasional clothing, worn in the camp's shuttle van, must not be "sexually alluring."
Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times
Skinny dipping, of course, members of the Youth Leadership
Camp, run by the American Association for Nude Recreation,
in Land O'Lakes, Fla.
Nude tourism has grown to a $400 million business this year from a $120 million business in 1992, reports the nudist association, with travel agencies noting a surge in nude cruises and, in May, the first nude charter flight. The association itself is growing, with 30 new clubs, for a total of 267, in the last two years.
There are still few places, however, for teenagers.
"I've spent my life around nudist resorts; this is the first time I've ever been around kids my own age," said Halie, who had been named Camper of the Day the previous night for participating fully despite a foot swollen by a bee sting. "It's either 45 and over or 10 and under."
The campers, many of them alumni of church or scout camps, say they like this better, but not for the reasons most people might expect.
"I learned to play tennis this morning," Amanda Williamson, 18, said. "I never did that at church camp. I'm getting better at volleyball, too."
Aside from the obvious, naked camp looks a lot like other camps: campers play Capture the Flag, catch frogs and leap up when the whistle blows signaling seconds for ice cream. They make s'mores and sing modified campfire songs ("This Land Is Your Land" ends, "This land was made nude and free.") Each camp team writes a song for the annual talent show, with hosts "Sunny and Bare."
Parents and campers say the camp promotes a healthy body image at an age when confidence can crumble, and better relations between the sexes when awkwardness normally prevails.
"In gym class, some of the girls will hide in their lockers to take off their shirts in front of other girls," Halie said. "Sometimes I'll say, `Why are you so insecure?' They all say, `I need to lose a few pounds.' I just don't care about that stuff. I accept my body the way it is."
The nudist association, the larger of two nationwide, sees this as a place to train "youth ambassadors" to what nudists call the "textile" world. (To the question posed by one after-dinner discussion, "I'm a Nudist; Am I a Nut?," the answer, not surprisingly, was no.)
There are things that set this camp apart. Mosquito bites are more irritating, the sunscreen police more vigilant. Campers pack lighter, but drag towels, Linus-like, because nudist etiquette dictates using one when sitting. And the discussion groups feature topics like "Is God Mad at Me Because I'm a Nudist?" (Again, no.)
And everyone is on guard against COG's — "creepy outside guys" — who try to sneak in past the tall fences and security gates, to peek. On Tuesday, when a suspicious-looking man arrived at the pool, counselors quickly herded campers away and guards escorted the unwelcome visitor from the premises.
"It makes me a bit freaked out that people would think of nudity as a sexual thing," said Michelle Jones, 15, a camper from Texas.
Pat Brown, president of the American Association for Nude Recreation, said the camps run extensive background and criminal checks on counselors, often college students who have been nude campers themselves.
Bernie McCabe, the state attorney for Pasco County, where the Lutz camp is, said he had never heard any complaints about it.
Parents seem to have no worries about pedophilia, speaking of nudist camps and resorts as safe, family-like environments.
"Everybody keeps an eye on the children," George Jeffries, Jane's father, said. "There are no transgressions by regular folks coming here, and newcomers are watched very closely."
Still, even parents who have sent their children here for several years do not necessarily tell their church friends or relatives about it.
"If I'm confronted I will not lie, but it's not something I want to have to explain," the father of two boys, an engineer for a telecommunications company, said. "I worry about my kids being ostracized. I believe in this, but a lot of people don't."
The father, like others, said the camp discourages some of the less attractive behavior of adolescents: "I don't have to worry about them sneaking around and seeing things their friends are, the girlie magazines and the porn movies."
Campers agree.
"It takes the mystery out of what the other person looks like, so sex becomes more something you know you're waiting to experience, rather than just a physical thing where you want to find out," said an 18-year-old who gave her name as Jeanene.
"At school, if you see a person, you just see their clothes," Jane said. "Here you have to actually get to know the people."
But some things about teenagers, nudist or not, remain true. Boys at 13 still find scatological humor far funnier than anyone else does. Eleven-year-old girls still fight about who gets to dance as J. Lo in the talent show. Even nudist campers coo at the "cute" swimsuits as they pull on clothing to get back in the van.
Pulling out of one resort during a field trip, a few campers ask the van driver to stop so they can check out the souvenirs. Inside, they finger sarongs and embroidered T-shirts. But they don't buy.
Too expensive.
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Cheri
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Posted - 06/19/2003 : 08:56:38 AM
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I was given the following information:
AOL has a poll along with this article. The 3 questions (with results
that were shown after I voted) are:
Should there be nudist camps for teens?
No 63%
Yes 37%
Would you have gone as a teen?
No 66%
Yes 34%
Would you go to a nudist resort as an adult?
No 56%
Yes 39%
Have already gone 6%
If any members here have AOL service, I would encourage you to vote
in the
poll to show positive support of nudism......
Doing what I can to positively promote nudism
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 Posted - 06/21/2003 : 11:47:40 AM
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From the St. Petersburg Times - June 19, 2003
Nude summer youth camps alarm lawmaker
By JAMES THORNER, Times Staff Writer
Youth camps in the buff are "good old-fashioned naked fun," a leader of nudists says. A lawmaker from Florida considers them something else.
LAND O'LAKES - For 10 years, young people ages 11 to 18 have gathered in Pasco and other Florida counties to pitch tents, swat volleyballs and sing around campfires.
Typical summer camp, save one important distinction: They do it naked.
U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, one of Washington's leading advocates for missing and exploited kids, doesn't like the idea of a clothes-free camp for teenagers. After reading a story Wednesday in the New York Times, he decided to raise a fuss.
Foley, running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Graham, plans to deliver letters today to Gov. Jeb Bush and Attorney General Charlie Crist, singling out Lake Como nudist resort in Land O'Lakes, which hosted a bare-skinned youth camp that ended last week.
Foley said the camp, sponsored by the American Association for Nude Recreation, appears to exploit children to make money.
The camps operate under a Florida law that allows people to be nude as long as they're not lewd. Foley wonders if state statutes should change. Thus the letters to Bush and Crist.
"What's wrong with your kids going to Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls or sports camps?" Foley, the West Palm Beach Republican, said Wednesday from Washington. "It's beyond the pale that this is a normal way to bring up a 14-year-old child."
The adult nudists who run the camps say they teach teenagers healthy lessons about accepting their sometimes awkward adolescent bodies. Aside from the Pasco camp, others are held in Virginia and Arizona.
Erich Schuttauf, executive director of the nude association, called Lake Como's camp, which attracted about 25 young nudists from June 5 to 13, "good old-fashioned naked fun."
"We have always been about a wholesome family-oriented environment suitable for people of all ages," Schuttauf said from his Kissimmee office.
Foley wonders about the wholesomeness.
The New York Times article noted that the kids were subjected to the unwanted gaze of a 40-something visitor to Lake Como peeping from a sauna window.
Lake Como resident Elf Andersen dubbed the man a "COG," which she said stands for "creepy old guy." This particular COG, like all others, was ejected from the 200-acre resort.
"The kids can spot when somebody is not pure of heart," said Andersen, who stressed that campers are protected by adult counselors and sleep in tents isolated from regular resort patrons.
Foley, a fifth term congressman, denies that he's raising the nude camping issue to bolster his chances for the Republican nomination for Senate.
As co-chairman of the House's Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, he lobbied for the AMBER network, a way to broadcast missing children's cases across the country.
He most recently tackled child erotica on the Internet. He said he was shocked by the newspaper article about the naked camps that have been going on in his home state since 1993.
Foley suggested the camps force kids to fixate on nudity during their impressionable, formative years. Normal teen sexual urges can become inflamed by the nakedness around them, he said.
"It's putting matches a little too close to gasoline," he said.
But nudists said the camp's goal is exactly the opposite. Most of the campers have grown up as nudists. Removing the clothes actually minimizes the importance of bodies, they say.
"As you know, kids are natural nudists," Andersen said. "It's so cute to see a naked baby and toddlers. But as we mature somehow that no longer is seen as a wholesome, healthy thing."
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Posted - 06/23/2003 : 11:44:38 PM
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From the St. Petersburg Times - June 22, 2003
Can't critic see camp is nude, but not lewd?
By JAN GLIDEWELL, Times Columnist
Shaky economy? Erosion of civil liberties in the name of national security? War? Terrorism? A health care system that is such a shambles that many sick people can't afford doctors and many doctors can't afford to take care of them?
Think these are issues a busy member of Congress ought to be thinking about?
How about kids getting naked at a nudist camp?
U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach, who is running for the U.S. Senate, wrote a letter to Gov. Jeb Bush and Attorney General Charlie Crist saying he found a New York Times article about a summer camp for kids 11-18 at Lake Como in Land O'Lakes to be "truly disturbing."
While admitting he doesn't know that anything illegal is going on, he says he thinks the issue is whether the camp is "exploiting nudity among minor children to make money."
Would that be something similar to exploiting a 10-year tradition of closely supervised recreation for children, who already come from nudist families, to make political hay?
It's ridiculous," Lake Como manager Van Bradley said of Foley's complaint, adding, "It is a well-supervised, well-structured camp. Children are as safe here as any child can be. This is just way off base."
Bradley enrolled his own 12-year-old grandson in this year's camp. "He had a great time and came away more grown up and with a better outlook on life in general. He can't wait to go back."
What seems to bother Foley is that Florida's laws make nudity legal as long as no lewdness is involved.
Believe it or not, people can get naked without getting lewd, and, for that matter, they can get lewd without being naked.
As a nudist myself, I don't come to this situation with an unbiased attitude, but neither do I come with an uneducated viewpoint.
I have been spending time every summer for the past six years at a clothing-optional campground in Colorado. Children are always around, and so are plenty of adults to make sure they are safe.
The one thing you don't see is many adolescent children because, their parents tell me, they go through a phase of feeling uncomfortable with the changes in their bodies.
I think anything that allows them to get over that in a structured environment under adult supervision is much healthier than having them think they are the only ones going through it.
Lake Como, founded in 1947, is the oldest of Pasco County's five nudist resorts, and nudism is big business in Pasco with tens of thousands of visitors every year making a major economic impact.
Criminal behavior is extremely rare. In 30 years I can remember one murder at - - 13 years ago, the result of a marital conflict, and one drug raid, 26 years ago at Lake Como, that was conducted with much media hooplah and that turned up a marijuana plant and a handful of pills that later proved to be vitamins.
One guy was convicted 12 years ago of videotaping children in lewd poses at the Riverboat Club.
In each instance it was the management and guests of the resorts who brought the criminal activity to the attention of authorities - quickly.
The average Wal-Mart requires more police service than all of the nudist resorts combined and more children by far, maybe Foley should note, have been sexually exploited in their homes and in schools than at nudist resorts."
Foley has long been an advocate of missing and exploited children, an admirable effort in cases where children really are exploited.
Recently, in response to public questioning about his sexual orientation, he has also been an advocate of people's rights to live their private lives without government or media interference.
That includes people involved in the legal activity of patronizing nudist resorts.
Florida's laws outlawing lewd conduct by clothed or unclothed people are sufficiently specific, and because Foley says he doesn't know if any are being broken, perhaps he should look first and pontificate later.
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calmnude
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Posted - 06/24/2003 : 11:52:08 AM
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mr. foley is a dangerous person for our way of life. one that sees sin evrywhere under the sun. floridians should fight back; mr. foley has delusions about being the next us senator, and is picking up this banner to gain statewide name recognition. very dangerous man.
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Posted - 06/25/2003 : 10:50:44 AM
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From newsnet5.com - June 20, 2003
Congressman Exposes Children's Nudist Camp
Summer Camp Promotes Clothes-Free Choices
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida congressman sees nothing natural in a nudist camp for kids. Republican Mark Foley wants state officials to open an investigation of the camp run by the American Association for Nude Recreation.
The weeklong summer camp outside Tampa, Fla., allows children ages 11 to 18 get together for games and sports and discussions about their choice to stay in the buff.
Foley is the co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus. He sent Gov. Jeb Bush and Attorney General Charlie Crist a letter Friday asking them to determine whether the camp was legal and to consider toughening state statutes against such activities.
The West Palm Beach Republican said he has no way of knowing whether illegal behavior is taking place in the camp, but added that the situation raises issues. Foley said a nudist camp for kids could expose them to pedophiles or other dangers.
Steve Vickers disagrees. He went to the camp for five years before becoming a counselor. He said the congressman has the wrong idea. While the campers are naked, Vickers said they aren't fooling around. Vickers said many of his fellow campers remained virgins far longer than kids at his high school.
[Visit this link to see the news video about Lake Como's summer youth camp]
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Posted - 06/25/2003 : 12:16:25 PM
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Reprinted from the Haulover-Digest V5 #38
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 12:10:03 -0400
From: "Michael Kush" <nacktkultur@msn.com>
Subject: More press coverage for Foley
Rep. Foley had the opportunity to get some more nice, free campaign coverage on his bid for a U.S. Senate seat on the following programs:
THE O'REILLY FACTOR ON FOX:
I wish O'Reilly had had someone on the other side on his show, because he, almost alone among the various hosts, dismissed the issue of the kids' camps after letting Foley make his pitch, basically commenting: "Look, if it's okay with the parents and there isn't anything wronggoing on there, I don't have a problem with it." He then moved to questioning Foley about some real-world child protection issues.
COUNTDOWN ON MSNBC:
A short segment, because "due to technical reasons" two nudist representatives could not appear. I assume it was the owners of Lake Como & White Tail park, who appeared on another program, unfortunately with a more hostile host (below).
SCARBOROUGH ON MSNBC:
Foley with the owners of Lake Como and White Tail Park.
This was a nightmare: "Just why do you have to have a hot tub big enough to fit 18 naked kids at your camp?" (to the owner of Lake Como). "Rep. Foley, I hope you'll get back to us later to let us know what action will be taken about these disturbing camps." (Not exact quotes, but close.)
GOOD MORNING AMERICA ON ABC:
Rep. Foley was on opposite Erich Schauttauf, his wife, and 2 of their children (girls ages 11 and 9). (Apologies if I got the spelling wrong!) They played the AANR promotional video for filler. (Erich was not identified as a FANR official.)
When asked by Diane Sawyer if he had any evidence of his allegations of misconduct, all Foley does is repeat the unfortunate "creepy old guys" reference, the "lit match to gasoline" analogy, "why can't they just go to Boy & Girl Scouts camps?" (like "normal" people" being the strong implication) and other such lines.
Erich & his family did a good job, pointing out the 1.5 to 1 counselor/camper ratio, and the fact that many of the kids' parents were, in fact, at the camp.
The importance of an unbiased host was strongly evident; some points raised by Diane Sawyer:
The demographics of nudists: professional, suburban, republican.
That the organizers didn't allow the campers to wear provocative clothing on the bus on the way to camp. (Allowing Erich to explain the nudist attitude on nudity vs. provocative dress.)
Comment: I hope that if this issue keeps getting the play it currently has in the media - and it will if Foley can keep this going - we can have more representation for the nudist position, and the correction of some of the false information and implications. (Like children being an innovation at nudist resorts.)
Michael Kush
Reprinted from the Haulover-Digest V5 #38
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Posted - 06/27/2003 : 11:58:34 AM
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Reprinted from the Haulover-Digest V5 #36
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 15:13:16 EDT
From: TAWyner@aol.com
Subject: Re: Haulover-Digest V5 #32
A thousand miles from "home", I was startled to hear an account of Foley's follies regarding AANR's summer youth camp.
This unfortunate speaking from ignorance must become an opportunity for Naturists to educate the public and erase old and common misconceptions. It's unfortunate for Foley that he did not do any homework on the subject. He would have found that Freud's long held extrapolations condemning innocent nudity in the presence of innocent children to have no studied/scientific base. Fortunate for Naturists, University of Illinois PhD Marilyn Storey(?Story) did study the effects of innocent nudity in a household and/or in innocent recreational social nudity.
What she found is that "our" kids have a great advantage over non-nudists children. Their adolescent experience is less stress-full than their non-nudist contemporaries.
"Our" kids tend to have much better body image and therefore acceptance than "other" kids. Afterall our kids have seen amputees, mastectomies, breast-feeding, every body type and size.
Hopefully their experience teaches them that the body is merely the vessel which carries the real person, the whole person, not just body parts. Approximately 15 years ago, when I was serving as VP and PR chair for the ESA, I was invited to be a guest on a local/Pittsburgh CBS affiliate. The subject of the noon time talk show was to be nudity in the presence of children. They asked me because of my growing-up experience with a bachelor, skinny-dipping father.
When I realized that the other guest on the show was to be a psychologist, I quickly moved the invitation to a local psychologist, Kathy, who had been an expert witness in "my"/our/Naturist Society Federal civil liberties case. In preparation for the talk show I had delivered the Marilyn Storey study to Kathy. Just as we expected the other guest psychologist relied on poor old wrong Freud to substantiate the claim that being nude in the presence of your children after they were 4 yrs. old, would negatively impact them for life. Freud had not studied children of social nudists, but such misconceptions have derived from extrapolations of Freud.
"Our" psychologist, Kathy, blew the Freudian psychologist out of the water. The other psychologist never knew what hit him. Moreover, the audience, live and live on the phone, expressed relief that for example, showering with one's children is innocent and harmless.
I believe Kathy the psychologist has since done her own study which substantiated Dr. Storey's.
We have nothing to fear in this issue. We should embrace the opportunity to let it be known that our kids are less likely to be slaves to their appearance because of their nudist experience.
Sunnier hosted one of the first AANR kids' summer camp and I have to say at that time the staff of the camp was excellent.
The kids were extremely well behaved, with numerous fun, creative, educational activities from which to choose. I believe at least 2 staff adults must be present at each event--not one but two.
We arranged a bus trip for the campers to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and to a local beach, where they wore bathing suits, at the same time educated to the unfortunate possibility of wrongful use of Fla. Statutes against innocent skinny-dippers.
The kids were moved to thank Sunnier for hosting their summer camp and expressed their thanks by helping to build a few picnic tables.
The response to accusations should be greater light. Bring it on! Kids are our "best foot forward". Let them speak for themselves armed with good information and their own personal experience, the public may recognize the benefits of social nudism, "out of the mouths of babes".
If Naturists/nudists do not confront Foley and his unfounded accusations, Naturist children could be jeopardized.
We have nothing to fear or hide.
"To the pure all is pure."
ta
Reprinted from the Haulover-Digest V5 #36 by permission of the author.
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Posted - 06/30/2003 : 10:04:47 AM
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From the NationalReviewOnline - June 27, 2003, 11:00 a.m.
Naked Came the Teenagers
Winning the culture wars by embracing public nudity — for kids!
Dave Shiflett - NationalReviewOnline columnist
Here in Virginia we seldom find ourselves ahead of the curve. But times are changing. Indeed, we have jumped ahead of the curve this summer, or perhaps one should say "curves." Virginia is hosting one of the nation's largest nudist campouts — for adolescents. It's in session this week, in Southampton County, where Nat Turner led an earlier rebellion. The only other official nudist camps for kids, we learn from the Richmond Times Dispatch, are in Florida and Arizona.
The site of the camp is Ivor, a small town on Route 460, which is perhaps best known as a speed trap. Yet this week it is home to 30 naked kids aged 11 to 18, most of whom are children of adult nudists. The compound is called White Tail Camp, which apparently doesn't refer to the campers but the local deer population. Indeed, the sun been bright this week, and those little butts are surely nut brown by now.
To be sure, we've been getting naked in Virginia for many years, both before and after the arrival of the white-tailed masses. George Washington got naked when necessary, as did Madison and Monroe, though none of these gents got naked nearly as often as Thomas Jefferson, or so we have been led to believe. Woodrow Wilson, another of the state's prominent sons, is thought to gotten naked a time or two, though his wife reportedly admonished him and ordered him to return to his books.
Yet there has been some concern about the naked children at Camp White Tail. A few churchgoers have been quoted in opposition to the idea, and child-protection types — who make a practice of turning people in for taking pictures of their naked babies — worry aloud about sexual exploitation. Robert Roche, camp director and reportedly a famous nudist, says these fears are misplaced. Counselors have received thorough background checks. Indeed, the camp is said to be a hotbed of Platonic behavior. Each day starts at 7 A.M. with exercise and ends many sun-drenched hours later with campfire singalongs. The Dispatch adds that additional activities include "volleyball, swimming, first-aid classes, even an introduction to firefighting skills."
Did someone say "weenie roast?"
Well, making jokes at the expense of nudists comes easily enough, and many of cannot help but be amused by the idea of anyone paying for their kids to get naked with other kids. After all, as kids we used to do that for free, as often as possible. We also chuckle over reports that "nudist professionals" are being brought in to teach the kids how to be properly naked. One wonders what it takes to become a pro.
But the fact is that we might learn a few things from the nudists, who truly seem to be of a philosophical bent.
We will have disagreements, to be sure. They argue that being naked is "natural" and therefore there's nothing wrong with being natural around your friends, family, and willing strangers. We might counter that many "natural" phenomena — including breaking wind and taking a leak — are nonetheless best experienced privately. Indeed, shielding others from such phenomena is a hallmark of civilization — as is shielding them from our deepest inner thoughts. And there's no disputing that after a certain age the human body is increasingly hideous to behold. Clothes are our friends — sometimes our best friends.
At the same time, Mr. Roche makes an interesting point when insisting these young campers will not be sexually stimulated by one another's nudity. Why? Because they are so accustomed to nakedness it has become old hat. If this is true, and it certainly seems reasonable, we can imagine vast implications, especially regarding the worlds of advertising and popular culture, which rely on nakedness, or near nakedness, to move about 85 percent of their product and 90 percent of their tickets. If nakedness loses its punch, creative types will have to come up with something new. They'll have to use their brains again. And the culture will probably improve as a result.
Of course, it is quite possible that the nakedness is already losing its punch due to overuse by Hollywood and Madison Avenue. But traditionalists might want to help the process along by getting behind the White Tail movement. Indeed, they may want to start enrolling their own kids to nudist camps. Just don't forget to send along the camcorder.
Dave Shiflett is a member of the White House Writers Group.
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Posted - 06/30/2003 : 7:18:53 PM
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From Click10.com - June 30, 2003
Governor Responds To Concerns About Nudist Camp
No Reports Of Abuse Found Yet
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush's office has responded to a congressman's concern about a nudist camp for children.
Rep. Mark Foley asked the state to look into a weeklong summer camp for 11- to 18-year-olds that is run by the American Association for Nude Recreation outside of Tampa at Lake Cuomo.
A letter from Raquel Rodriguez, general counsel to the governor, to Foley said, "The Governor shares your concern for the well being of children in the state of Florida, and is troubled by the potential that exists for inappropriate or illegal behavior involving children who are nude in the presence of non-parental adults."
"The Department of Children and Families is reviewing existing records to determine whether there have been any reports of criminal acts or child abuse related to these activities. As of this writing, we are unaware of any reports alleging child abuse, neglect or exploitation related to the camp, but the Department will continue with their fact-finding."
The letter also said, "Florida statutory provisions regarding nudity require a showing of intent to engage in lewd or lascivious conduct; it does not criminalize mere nudity. "
The Department of Children and Families is continuing to investigate the camp.
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From News24.com - 30/06/2003
Concern over teen nude camp
Miami - Florida governor Jeb Bush, a brother of the US president, has expressed concern over the potential for "inappropriate or illegal behavior" at a nudist camp for teenagers in the southeastern state.
But, responding to a complaint by US lawmaker Mark Foley, the governor also pointed out that Florida law "does not criminalize mere nudity."
In a letter to Foley made public on Monday, the governor's office said that authorities were reviewing records to determine whether there had been any reports of child abuse related a nudist camp for children aged 11-18 near Tampa, Florida.
Foley, the representative for West Palm Beach, Florida, and co-chairperson of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Childrens Caucus, recently wrote to the governor, saying the very nature of the camp amounted to exploitation of the children, who risked being exposed to pedophiles.
"As of this writing, we are unaware of any reports alleging child abuse, neglect or exploitation related to the camp," the governor's office said in its response.
"The governor shares your concern for the well-being of children in the state of Florida, and is troubled by the potential that exists for inappropriate or illegal behavior involving children who are nude in the presence of non-parental adults," the letter said.
But it pointed out that public nudity is only considered a crime in Florida if "intent to engage in lewd or lascivious conduct" is demonstrated.
"The rights of parents to impart their values to their children and raise their children as they see fit are sacred. But these rights require responsibility," the letter said.
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Randy007
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Posted - 07/03/2003 : 01:20:12 AM
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I wholeheartedly agree with Gov. Bush. The parent does have the "right and responsibility" to impart their values to their children. Sadly, I feel that not enough of that is being done these days. So I applaud those who do!
Randy
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Admin
Forum Admin
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Posted - 07/20/2003 : 08:56:27 AM
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From TheLedger.com - Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Careful Hiring at Nude Camp Urged
West Palm Beach
U.S. Rep. Mark Foley asked organizers of a nudist summer camp for children to strengthen their background checks of employees Monday after meeting with leaders of nudist organizations who were defending the camp.
A coalition of groups representing recreational nudists asked to meet with Foley, appealing to him to respect the privacy of the families who choose to send their children to the camp.
Foley called attention to the camp last month when he asked Gov. Jeb Bush to investigate whether the summer program was illegal.
Bush's staff responded that they found no indication of illegal activity, but that they would check to see if any complaints had been filed.
The weeklong summer camp run by the American Association for Nude Recreation outside of Tampa allows children ages 11 to 18 get together for games and sports and discussions about their choice to stay in the buff.
"I want to make sure that they're properly regulated, properly secure, and that they're not going to have kids come in contact with undesirables," said Foley, a West Palm Beach Republican who's running for U.S. Senate.
Nudists who met with Foley said they wanted him to stop harassing the camp now that state officials said it was legal.
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Country: USA
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Admin
Forum Admin
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Posted - 09/14/2003 : 10:10:34 PM
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Reprinted from the Haulover Digest
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 12:09:21 -0400
From: "Michael Kush" <nacktkultur@msn.com>
Subject: The John Walsh Show
Discussion on AANR Youth Leadership Camp
(Week of September 8th)
The John Walsh Show is a nationally distributed NBC program with a principle mission of addressing children's safety and protection issues. On August 28th, a show addressing the nudist Youth Leadership Camps was taped in New York before a live audience. Appearing were U.S. Rep. Foley; Shirley Mason (B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation and South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association); Kyle Hofmann, a 16-year-old participant in this year's Florida Camp, and his grandmother, Marion, who was a Camp volunteer; the Jackson family (father, mother and 2 daughters - FL camp participants), Steve Vickers (youth camp graduate); and a representative of Shangri-La Ranch, where AANR Arizona camp was held.
This show is scheduled to air the week of September 8th, most likely Monday or Tuesday. To confirm the day & date, go to the John Walsh Show website at www.johnwalsh.tv the weekend before to view THIS WEEK'S SHOW TOPICS. Information on the upcoming week's lineup should be posted by Saturday Sept. 6th.
In Miami, the show airs on WTVJ (NBC Channel 6) at 10 AM. You may check times for other NBC outlets nationally on the John Walsh website.
Mike Kush
SFFB/FNA
B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation
Reprinted from the Haulover Digest. This information is provided for education and community discussion. Nudist-Resorts.Org is not affiliated with SFFB/FNA.
[Admin's note: If you saw this episode, please add your comments here by clicking Reply to Topic.]
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Admin
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Cheri
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/06/2004 : 7:01:59 PM
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FROM THE AANR OFFICE:
Dear Friends of AANR:
On January 5, 2004, Delegate John Reid pre-filed a bill with the Virginia General Assembly. As drafted it would forbid the state from licensing a hotel, summer camp, or campground that maintains or conducts as any part of its activity a nudist camp for juveniles. (The bill defines these as camps attended by openly nude juveniles not accompanied by their parents or a legal guardian.)
Without question, the bill is targeting the AANR East youth leadership camp held at White Tail Park.
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the thoughtful members and groups who have copied us on messages about this development. We also wanted to let you know what we are doing and how you can help.
AANR East President, Bob Roche, is already in the process of engaging a top-notch lobbyist who draws on extensive experience representing the hotel industry. This is one example of how your AANR dues are already helping the cause.
As we get direction from the lobbyist, we will be communicating with you further and are prepared with others throughout the naturist and nudist community to stop this bill. In the meantime, further sensationalism from the media will only serve to keep the spotlight brighter on the lawmaker who benefits from the attention.
We would strongly appreciate it if our clubs and leadership, should they be contacted, decline interviews and let Carolyn Hawkins know of the contacts. You can e-mail clubinfo@aanr.com or call 1-800-879-6833. Thank you for your commitment to AANR.
Doing what I can to positively promote nudism
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calmnude
Forum Member
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Posted - 01/06/2004 : 9:49:49 PM
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good catch,cheri.
we have to keep an eye on these misguided "protectors of the public good". the only thing they are trying to protect is their political careers and they are usually up to no good. we must keep educating and fighting to open the eyes of the public and other legislators, and make them focus on important things like better schools, housing and less violent crime.
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Nudist Youth Leadership Camp In Mainstream Media
