Directory of #naturist#nudist#camping sites of the world.
OpenCampingMap is using OpenStreetMap. This is probably the best way to keep information up to date, because it is easy for all to cooperate.
Did you know you can ask the candidates for #AANR President questions or leave comments on the AANR.com website?
Go to Home page and scroll down to the candidate pictures and click on them to do so.
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
(The article is in German, but that should not be a problem thanks to "deepl dot com")
Naked facts and boundless freedom: "Nacktwanderfreunde" on the move in the Ore Mountains (mountain range on the border between Germany and the Czech Republic)
HIKING: club goes hiking naked in Saxony several times a year
18.04.2024
If you go hiking in the Ore Mountains or Saxon Switzerland, you may come across nude hikers from Pirna with rucksacks and nothing else on their bodies. The nude hikers earn many a shocked look for their unusual hobby. But what makes people decide to go hiking naked in the first place and is it actually allowed?
Firstly: Yes, it is allowed. As long as no criminal offences, such as exhibitionism, are committed, it's legal. BLICK.de asked the association: What motivates the members to go nude hiking? "The main thing that motivates us is to get back to nature as human beings and to realise that we are a part of it," explains chairman Martin Nitsche. "I always felt comfortable naked as a child and never had a problem with it. At some point I thought to myself, why not combine the pleasure of hiking and being naked?" At that time, there was already the Freundeskreis Sächsischer Naturisten, from which the Nacktwanderfreunde association emerged last year.
"Nudity is nothing to be ashamed of, after all, we are all born naked."...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Memories of Britain's first nudist beach in Brighton 45 years on and how attitudes have changed
Britain's first nudist beach opened on Brighton's seafront in April 1980 amid much controversy after a campaign led by Tory councillor Eileen Jakes
By Matt Roper, 4 Apr 2024
It was not exactly what the TV crews, newspaper reporters and dozens of onlookers had in mind as they waited on Brighton seafront for the opening of Britain’s first nudist beach.
As the countdown began to the new dawn of UK naturism, heads strained and cameras got into position to see who would make history by baring all. At 7.30am on the cold and wet morning of April 2, 1980, Arthur Albrow, 61, took off his long johns and trudged naked across the shingly beach, letting out a gasp as he entered the icy sea.
The moment was underwhelming but a victorious end to the long fight for the right to be naked in public. Today, seven million people visit the UK’s dozens of public nudist sites.
But when councillors voted to allow the first nudist beach, 45 years ago, the decision was met with controversy The council vote was passed in August 1979, thanks to Tory councillor Eileen Jakes, 47, who handed around photographs of herself bathing topless in Ibiza. “I came into the world with nothing on and I will go out with nothing on. Why should I be ashamed of nudity?”, the grandmother said.
She responded to a call by the Central Council for British Naturism, which petitioned 140 local authorities for a nudist beach. As landlady of a beachfront pub, she argued having a beach in Britain for nude bathers...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
World Naked Bike Ride - Waihī Beach: Cyclists go starkers for body positivity, cycle safety and the environment
By Rebecca Mauger, 19 Mar, 2024
Brave cyclists donned helmets and not much more for a bike ride in the buff at Waihī Beach.
It was all in the name of body positivity, cycle safety and the environment as part of the World Naked Bike Ride - Waihī Beach.
The raw cyclists were waved at and cheered on as they breezed their way from Waihī Beach Hotel, along Wilson Rd towards Bowentown and back again.
Saturday’s bare bike ride was the third local World Naked Bike Ride - Waihī Beach which aligns with an international movement.
Hauraki Naturally founder Andrew Cook said families clapped and cheered the cyclists enthusiastically as they rode through the village.
Just about all the cyclists “dared to be bare’'. The naturist supporters had painted their bodies with positive messages for the 9km bike ride.
The World Naked Bike Ride started globally in 2003 as a protest against oil dependency and a celebration of the human body. A cycle advocacy and safety theme has since been introduced.
Cook said riding a bike naked through town was “pretty extreme’'.
“It flies in the face of social norms. But sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Cyclists are sick and tired of hearing the same old excuse from motorists who run into them, that they didn’t see the cyclist...
What absolutely great news!
If I, as a German, could become an AANR member with voting rights, I would apply for membership immediately!
In my opinion, Linda, known online as TrueBlueNude, would be exactly the right person in the role and responsibility as President of the AANR to further promote nudism/naturism and the acceptance of it (and not just in the USA).
An good article about how to behave in a German sauna:
GERMAN SAUNA RULES FOR FIRST TIMERS
This guide will help you prepare for your first German Sauna visit. Further below I cover each point and explain the dos and don'ts of a sauna session in Germany.
If you are a first timer to German spas and saunas, then this is a must-read!
Going to the sauna is part of the culture in German-speaking countries as it helps one unwind and there are numerous health benefits from the exchange of heat and coolness to the body and mind.
The popularity has just increased over the decades!...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Does Louisiana have a nudist colony? Yes, they've been baring it all for 53 years
BY JUDY BERGERON, Mar 8, 2024
Ah, the 1970s — the era of The Beatles' breakup, bell bottoms and "Boogie Fever."
It was also the time when folks began baring it all, if they so desired, at St. Tammany Parish's Indian Hills.
Yes, dear reader, in answer to the Curious Louisiana question, "Does Louisiana have a nudist colony?", the answer is, "Yes."
Louisiana's only clothing-optional park for those 18 and older has been in operation for 53 years.
Gottlieb 'the Professor' Kogel, a lifelong nudist from New Orleans, founded Indian Hills in 1971. Kogel, also a magician, often entertained visitors with his tricks.
Gottlieb "the Professor" Kogel opened the nudist compound (and some people's minds) in 1971. Friends say he got the nickname "the Professor" because of a stint as a drafting instructor at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. Adding to his interesting life story, the Crescent City-raised Kogel was also a magician, performing shows in the area for 40-plus years, including for guests at the nudist park. Kogel died in 2010 at the age of 93.
For the answer as to how Indian Hills has managed "Keeping Louisiana Nude Since 1971," as its motto states, we turned to its current manager, Tim Kraemer. "The previous owner was able to keep it open to many people without pulling too much negative publicity," Kraemer, 44, said...
Last night (23 February 2024), Martin Nitsche from www. Nacktwanderfreunde .de was a guest on the German television talk show "Nachtcafe" and was interviewed about naked hiking.
(The Youtubevideo is in German, but you can set the subtitles to your language and they will be translated thanks to automatic translation)
Talk topic: Welcome to the club!
There are 620,000 clubs in Germany with 50 million members. One in two of us is in a sports club or a bowling club, meets up with friends in the clubhouse in the evening or looks forward to regular rehearsals in a singing club. https://youtu.be/km7S2baqWb8
Self-introduction by Martin from minute 00:43 - 00:53
Introduction by moderator from minute 03:13 - 03:43
Interview from minute 46:55 - 01:00:45
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Wisconsin's legislative halt brings a tentative victory for naturist rights
A welcome win, but the fight continues in Wisconsin
By EVAN NICKS, FEB 23 2024
In a surprising turn of events, the Wisconsin State Legislature has apparently opted not to advance the controversial anti-nudity bills SB 477 and SB 478 to the assembly agenda before the closure of their legislative session this week, leaving naturism advocates cautiously optimistic. Despite a scheduled session focused on budgetary items in March, the likelihood of these bills being revisited remains low, marking a critical moment for proponents of body freedom in the state, though it is tempered by a lack of definitive closure and continued anxiety over what has amounted to a dangerously close call.
A temporary victory amid ongoing challenges
After several months of anxiety over the future of naturism in Wisconsin, the tabling of SB 477 and SB 478—aimed at redefining public indecency laws and regulating minors’ attendance at events with nude adults—brings with it a welcome moment of respite for naturist advocates in the state. Activists on the ground in Wisconsin have been working nonstop since these bills were introduced in October to coordinate letter writing, contact representatives, and rally opposition to these bills. There are many to credit.
Among those are dedicated individuals and groups who rallied in opposition to the bills. Organizations like the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) and the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), alongside WNBR bike groups, LGBTQ+ advocates, women’s rights activists, and countless individual naturists in Wisconsin, have been at the forefront of this fight, investing both time and resources. NAC expressed their gratitude to Planet Nude:...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Freikörperkultur und Lebensreform Sydney Project 2024
We are excited to announce the start of a new project for 2024 that will bring the aesthetics of German Freikörperkultur und Lebensreform movement to Sydney. Stay tuned for developments thru 2024.
Freikörperkultur und Lebensreform Backstory
Freikörperkultur, which translates to ‘free body culture’ (FKK), is derived from the German Naturists Movement that started in the 1890s and is still practiced in northern Europe today. Beachs and parks designated for naturism are sign posted as FKK places.
German FKK naturism was part of the Lebensreform movement and the Wandervogel youth movement of 1896, from Stieglitz, Berlin, which promoted ideas of fitness and vigour.
At the same time, doctors of the Natural Healing Movement were using heliotherapy, treating diseases such as tuberculosis, rheumatism, and scrofula with exposure to sunlight.
Nacktkultur, a term coined in 1903 by Heinrich Pudor, connected nudity, vegetarianism and social reform, and was practised in a network of 200 members clubs. The movement gained prominence in the 1920s by offering a health giving life-style with Utopian ideals. Germany published the first naturist journal between 1902 and 1932, but it became politicised by radical socialists who believed it would lead to classlessness and a break down of society. It eventually became associated with pacificism...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Business Monday: Take a walk au Naturel at Hawaiian Naturism Park
By Megan Hadley, February 19, 2024
Like everyone on earth, Joe Clingman said he was born a nudist, adding it’s not until people are taught to stay covered – in most situations – that they do.
It wasn’t until his late 30s that Clingman explored naturism – non-sexual public nudity in a social environment.
“My only regret is not trying it sooner,” he said.
Clingman now brings the naturism experience to the Big Island through Hawaiian Naturist Park, a nude bed and breakfast located in Fern Forest, just outside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. He said his resort has welcomed the naturalist community to Hawai‘i Island since 2021, including families, couples and singles from all walks of life, ethnicities and sexual orientation.
“For nudists, our norm might seem extreme to some, but once you experience it, you will find we are actually pretty modest folks,” said Clingman who owns the resort with his wife. “This is because we detach nudity from sexuality.”
Driving up to the naturalist retreat the long, unpaved, gravel windy road leads to locked gates. There, the caretakers greet guests, show them around the grounds and escort them to their lodgings.
Comprised of three 100-square-foot bungalows – made from locally harvested bamboo that was weathered, burned and blessed by the builders – the secluded property boasts of peaceful, quiet and serene days for floating in the pool, hot tub or lounging by the fireplace...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
It wasn’t until I left the UK that I learned how to be naked
In Germany, there’s no huddling under towels to get dressed
By Sarah Magill, February 5, 2024
When I moved to Berlin nine years ago, one of the most striking culture shocks I faced was the locals’ relative ease with public nudity. In saunas, that is.
For Germans – or Berliners, at least – stripping off to use the sauna is completely normal. Likewise, in the changing rooms and showers of sports facilities, there’s no huddling under towels to get dressed. There’s simply no stigma attached to walking around au naturel. This was in stark contrast to what I’d always experienced in the UK. I even saw a sign at a swimming pool in Essex once urging people to keep their swimsuits on in the showers “in the interests of modesty”.
Entering a sweaty wooden cabin full of happily naked people for the first time in Berlin was uncomfortable, of course. I found myself grappling with self-consciousness on two fronts – over my own body and in an attempt to conceal my intrigue at the variety of appendages on display. But I enjoyed the ritual of the sauna, especially the Aufguss (meaning “infusion”) procedure, during which a member of staff pours scented water on hot coals and skillfully disperses the resulting heat around with fans, for an even, more intense, sensation. I’d never experienced anything as elaborate in the UK, where I’d only ever sporadically indulged in a sauna session following a swim or gym workout, provided there was one available (which wasn’t very often).
But in Germany, saunas are a common feature of most sports facilities and there are at least 20 public saunas in Berlin alone. Sauna culture is a big deal here. Last year, well over a quarter of the German population frequently went to the sauna or steam bath in their free time...
Unveiling a Naturist Lifestyle: Breaking Stigmas and Finding Freedom
By Francesca Bliss Art & Photography, 19.01.2024
Katie Ospina who lives in Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort talks about how she came to live a nudist lifestyle, its pros and cons and her journey with body acceptance. An important topic she touches on is challenging societal norms and finding freedom in your body. Katie has a sincere and authentic sharing style and so much wisdom! In this video you can also get a glimpse of the nature in Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort which is open for camping, cabin rentals, RV parking and day visits...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Coping With Gymnophobia in Your Life
Fear of Nudity
By Lisa Fritscher, January 21, 2024
Gymnos is the Greek root word for "naked" or "bare" and you are likely familiar with its use in the word gymnasium which was named during the time period when athletes competed in the nude. It is plain to see from historical Greek artwork that the nude body was an object of admiration.
Gymnophobia, or the fear of nudity, is a highly personalized phobia that comes in many forms. Some people with this fear are afraid only of being naked in public, as is the case in communal showers or changing rooms. However, some people also fear being naked while they're with their partner or even when they're by themselves at home. Yet others are comfortable with their own nakedness but fear the nudity of others.
Many people with gymnophobia are unable to participate in sexual activities and may develop a more generalized genophobia, or fear of sex that stems from their gymnophobia. In extreme cases, this fear can even lead to ablutophobia, or fear of bathing or showering.
Causes
Gymnophobia can have many different causes. Comfort levels with nudity may vary by age, gender, the setting, and whether the lights are on or off. It can also depend on personal experiences, social media pressures, and cultural expectations.
In 2023, a group of clinicians provided the "Nudity Confidence Survey" to over 3000 Americans, and asked how comfortable they are being naked in varying situations. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least comfortable and 10 being the most comfortable, people ranked situations as follows:...
SAXON NATURIST DAYS ’24
„Put the Shoes and your Clothes in your Backpack, we’re going to the Mountains“
Who we are ?
We are the Nacktwanderfreunde e.V., a registered Association of Naturists, which has set itself the Goal of promoting Nudivities and Naturist Culture – we are close to Nature and what better Way than to go on a Ramble through the Home ? Our Club grows steadily, so that we can inspire beside André, Erik, Horst, Martin and Rainer many other Friends from all over Germany for our Hobby. Once a Year we invite to our Naturist Days and the Number of Participants grows from Year to Year, so in the Past we were honored by Guests from all Parts of Germany, but also from the Rest of the World: No matter if they came from Great Britain, Hungary, Slovakia, from Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Singapore or the USA, we received our well-traveled Friends with the typical Saxon Hospitality …
Our Tours extend mostly to Hikes in the Saxon Switzerland and the surrounding Regions, whereby we occasionally leave Saxon Switzerland in the Direction of Bohemian Switzerland, the Region of Sebnitz and the Zittau Mountains.
The Naturist Days
During our Hiking Week you will meet different difficulty Levels for each Hike. For Friends of a well-groomed Hike there’s nothing that speaks against, because for every difficult Ascent or Descent, there is also an Alternative. So we can accommodate to Dog Owners.
However, you should bring a Minimum Level of Fitness and Head of Heights, as most Paths in Saxon Switzerland are mountainous and often lead along steep Slopes. In some Places it may also be necessary for a small Climb or handle one or the other Ladder. However, this is usually only limited to climb between two Stones, so Climbing Equipment is not necessary. However, this is the Charm of this particular Sandstone World…
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
Naked swimming introduced at Plymouth pool
Naturist group Plymouth Sun Club is behind the sessions
By Katie Timms, 26 JAN 2024
A Plymouth naturist club is launching 'skinny-dipping' swim sessions at a Plympton Pool. Plymouth Sun Club has been an established naturist group for years and is now inviting others to join them with a new class.
The costume-free sessions for naturists, nudists and anyone who enjoys a 'clothing-optional' lifestyle, will be held at Plympton Pool at Harewood Park on the first Monday of each month at 8.30pm.
The group end their sessions with a drink in the pub and invite those who are wanting to try out the lifestyle to join them and try it out.
Matthew Day, Plymouth Sun Club Press and Publicity Officer, said: “We’re a friendly, welcoming group of all ages and shapes and sizes who come from all walks of life and thoroughly enjoy costume-free swimming.
"It’s great fun, and sociable too - we always end our sessions over a drink in the pub. So if you are a seasoned naturist or a first timer wanting to take the plunge, come along, you won’t regret it.”
Plymouth Sun Club say taboos around nudity are "eroding" and the health and well-being benefits of going naked are more widely understood, with more and more people wanting to get those fantastic, life-affirming feelings for themselves.
In an Ipsos poll, commissioned in 2022 by British Naturism revealed that 14 per cent of respondents would describe themselves as naturists or nudists...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
'I host naked swim sessions at local pool – there's nothing sexual about nudity'
By Samantha Bartlett, 22 JAN 2024
A 'life-long naturist' has spoken about organising nude swimming sessions at his local pool.
Terry Lane, 47, has organised the weekly sessions at his nearby pool to 'celebrate nudity'. The sessions, which cost £5.50, take place every Wednesday between 9pm and 10pm at a his local pool in Bristol.
Talking about his swim sessions, Terry said: "I think everyone deep down is a naturist, you are born this way, so why not celebrate it?"
In addition to swimming, Terry also enjoys nude walks and even hosts naked dinner parties. He believes nudity "isn't sexual" and thinks it helps "boosts confidence".
erry wants to dispel the common misconception that public nudity is illegal. In England and Wales, it's not an offence to be naked in public unless it's done "with the intention to upset and shock".
He added: "Not a single person who I've ever convinced to give it a go has said they wouldn't do it again."
The news of Terry's naked swimming sessions come after it was revealed last July that several lidos around the UK were holding skinny-dipping events for naturists.
Shaftesbury Lido, Arundel Lido and Peterborough Lido were just three of the lidos around the country that said they were “open” to punters baring all in their waters...
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:
‘Gross’: European expats shock Aussies after going fully nude at home
A European expat has sparked a huge debate online after a seemingly innocent act landed them in hot water with neighbours.
By Sofia Dmitrieva, January 4, 2024
A European expat who shocked their Australian neighbours by being naked round the house has taken to social media to ask about cultural norms Down Under.
Posting anonymously to Reddit, the expat asked just how naked is considered “okay” by Australians, receiving mixed responses and sparking a debate online.
The author of the post explained they are from Europe and are relatively new to Australia, currently living in Sydney.
The expat was keen to find out what is appropriate for Australia, wanting to “fit in and not cause any problems or offence to anyone.”
“Our street is about 50 per cent Australian born and 50 per cent new arrivals like us. Most of them are of Asian or subcontinental backgrounds, one English family,” they wrote, providing some background information.
“We have I would say a very good relationship with most people, we do regular street parties, events at each other’s houses, help with minding children etc,” they continued.
“However, I’ve heard of a few comment flying around about our family being naked.
“For us, being naked is normal. Of course we were appropriate clothes if we’re outside our house, but usually inside my husband, children and I will be naked or close to it. If we’re outside the children (all under 10) are usually naked.”...
Preserve the Clothing-Optional Status of DeAnza Naturist
…We urge those in power to consider our plea – preserve the clothing-optional status of DeAnza Naturist. Let us continue enjoying this place as we have done so far – free from unnecessary restrictions on our personal choices.