By Jerry Troeger
What is keeping a lot of our young people from practicing social nudism? This question has been debated by nudists and nudist organizations such as AANR for years, with no clear answer. As any club owner or nudist organization will tell you, our future lies within the next generation. But where are they? Research has shown a striking decline in the number of younger adults entering into the social nudist lifestyle and no one seems to know exactly why.
Our own children for example, both in their later teens, were raised in the nudist lifestyle since birth. They live with us at our campground and are perfectly at ease amongst our friends and guests. Even some of their friends from school, with parental consent, come to visit. Yet neither of them consider themselves to be “nudists” or have chosen to practice nudism! They obviously are not yielding to social pressure, are not ashamed of their parents or where they live, and are both intelligent and well adjusted children. So where did we go wrong?
The answer may lie in the seemingly most unexpected of places: technology. Consider this: The “older generation”, (mid 30′s and up), still finds the need to get away from everyday stress and relax. They put away their laptops and cell phones for a few hours or days and just kick back and enjoy, often in a clothes free environment. They consider the practice of nudism to be a desirable and somewhat private way to distance themselves from the stresses of daily life…and the technology that rules it. It’s called “down time” and it is often revered as nothing less than sacred.
Our youth, on the other hand, does not desire the seemingly “idle” hours we do. For them, that’s time wasted and often boring. They have been programmed to think in terms of gigabytes and willingly immerse themselves in computer games, social websites, I-Pods or cell phones for fun. The need for a clothes-free environment just doesn’t enter into the equation. They are preoccupied with technology and may actually crave it. My wife and I often refer to teens as technological junkies, needing repeated electronic “fixes”. But no matter how you label it, our younger generation, through technology, may have forgotten how to relax in the conventional sense, finding their peace in an artificial land called cyberspace.
Can you imagine a place where the sun may shine, but you never actually feel it? They just don’t know what they are missing.
Jerry is the owner of the Bonita Nudist Resort
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As a young naturalist I often wonder the same thing. I am one who loves to get outside and be clothes free, I think the younger generation has a desire to be in a more social setting. It is only so fun to go to a resort or a hike by yourself. To me, in America, it does seem like something ‘older’ people do and my struggle is to live a more naturalist lifestyle, it seems you have to seclude yourself away from mainstream society. I for one am a very social person and think we need to feel connected and that we belong to a group. I have never been to a place like Wreck beach in Vancouver, or somewhere notoriously young, though I have travel through Europe some, been to some nudist beaches, and several resorts. I can say at all these places, I was the only 20 something there. Most people were older or children and I can say I felt kind of uncomfortable and just got bored. It seems to be as perceived as taboo to be a naturalist at a younger age. I think if there could be a way to market events geared in more open social settings and specifically for younger people, that more might get involved. What I want is a safe environment with people my age, doing things I enjoy (hiking, biking, camping, parties, etc…) If it were easier to connect with 20 to 30 year old naturalists, I think it would help normalize the situation.
Justin, to correct you on something: “naturalists” are people who study natural sciences like biology, zoology, botany, geology etc. They are not the same as ‘naturists’ although it is possible to be both.
Young people quite understandably do not wish to lounge about in deck chairs on the beach for the whole day, playing checkers/draughts and tut-tutting anyone wearing clothes. Young people are much more likely to want to be getting out and about and meeting new people, during lively exchange of physical exercise, such as naked hiking, naked bicycle riding, and so on. Something which has a little sense of adventure is much more likely to attract young people into naturism, than fuddy-duddies sitting around being bored.
http://www.naktiv.net/sports.html
Good point! For that reason, we don’t mind plugging your link!
Here’s my take the the subject. I started showering in public school at the age of 13. It was 1974 and everybody was required to shower after P.E. gym class. Now the thought of getting naked in front of strangers for the first time was scary. The first week was the worst. After that it was no big deal. Later I would walk around the locker room naked no problem. In high school it was just normal to shower after gym class. Who wants to go thru the rest of the day dirty and smelly?
Thease days I hear nobdy showers after gym class. They use deoderant, cologne, and change under towels. They consider it gay to be naked in front of others. So I think its a Homophobia thing. I goto a clothing optional natural hot springs in the woods and rearly are younger people nude. Sometimes they complain about the naked old guys!
there is no clubs for young single naturists and some older people do not like young male naturists is wrong and needs sorting out young naturist will just be discouriged why should they not have the same freedom as the older naturists
Downtime spent using technology may be a small part of it, but I don’t think that is the sole reason there are not more young people enjoying naturism. Time, money, location, and lack of marketing are the biggest problems. Most young people are too busy with work, school, and their social lives to drive out of their way to visit naturist clubs or resorts, if they are able to find one in their area.
Even if they do locate a club, exorbitant membership fees or day fees make it hardly seem worth the time and money. The resort I visit about twice a year charges a $30 day fee, and membership is $450 a year. I love it there and would love to be a member, but I can’t afford to drop $450 for a 12-month membership, and, in this economy, I seriously doubt very many college-aged people would be able to either. I understand that the high fees passively reinforce the code of decent behavior and help separate genuine naturists from voyeurs, but such high prices also shut a lot of good people out. Also, naturism just isn’t marketed here in the U.S. Zoning laws ensure that most naturist resorts are located in outlying areas, and people just don’t know they exist. If clubs would hold more special events throughout the year like the the world record skinny dip and the nude 5K runs that are increasing in popularity, I think interest would increase greatly
If naturism was not so expensive and if clubs marketed to the right demographics, we would see many clubs fill with wonderful young people who are genuinely interested in naturism for all the right reasons.