\"I have seen the notice for summer camps and for nude u and academy in the USA - I thought it was a brilliant idea and wish it was a global concept.\"
Debs, I\'m not familiar with this notice. Could you please post it? I\'ve not been to a nude summer camp, but there is apparently a camp in Vermont that is naturist-friendly. A friend of mine went there, and he said that skinny dipping was encouraged at the lakefront, and that some of the older kids gardened naked at times. It\'s not a naturist camp per se, but it\'s a camp that encourages kids to be themselves and to express themselves however they want, without fear of criticism. In a world where we place so much emphasis on how people look, this camp sounds like a great place for kids to not worry about that and to appreciate their bodies for what they are.
I\'m so sorry that I missed the boat on this camp, but perhaps one day I\'ll send my own kids there!
http://www.fandw.org/f/w/
Hmm... I went and visited the website and loved it! Why couldn\'t I have been sent to this camp as a kid growing up?
Here was the excerpt where they outlined skinnydipping:
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Freedom to be Yourself Today’s popular culture imposes demanding pressures on our children. Peer pressure can amplify these demands. Together, they can conspire to suffocate a child’s creativity and natural instincts to be her or his own best self. At F&W we encourage campers to find and express their potential through simple living and activities filled with physical challenges. We celebrate this discovery of a child’s creativity and reinforce it as much as possible. We say that young people are free to wear what they choose and have given this the name, \"The Fifth Freedom.\" Our costume boxes are legendary and it’s not unusual to see campers and staff parading across the lawn in outrageous outfits. No longer compelled to wear what fashion magazines dictate, campers and staff are empowered to be their own best selves. Campers are free to wear what they want at the waterfronts as well. The acceptance of skinny dipping at F&W waterfronts has roots going back 60 years and happens only when specific conditions are met. Staff initiate discussions about respect for the human body, nudity, privacy, making choices, and respecting others’ choices. Campers are encouraged to choose what they want to wear at the waterfront and that choice can include nothing at all. Some campers and staff continue to wear suits, while others choose not to. We actively support every individual’s choice. Because of the active interactions between our camps during square dances, trips and other shared activities, it is likely that campers will encounter co-ed environments. This may include waterfronts where skinny-dipping is practiced.
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Ryan
