Nude recreation week

Nude Recreation Week (NRWeek) is an annual event that is celebrated by the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and other naturist organizations. The week is typically held in the second week of July, and it is a time for naturists to come together and celebrate the way of life. Every year, the week after the 4th of July holiday, some American national naturist and nudist organizations  like the American Association for Nude Recreation designate National Nude Recreation Week in the United States. It is an opportunity to highlight many of the fun activities that can be enjoyed clothes free. Nude Recreation Week offers a way to shed stress while normalizing naturism.

The history of Nude Recreation Week dates back to the early 1970s. In the summer of 1974 a ban on nudity was proposed at the Cape Cos Seashore beach including traditionally clothing optional Truro beaches. Lee Baxandall the founder of the Naturist Society and other free beach advocates collaborated to form the Free the Free Beach Committee to protest the proposed ban. A year August 1975 later the group sponsored  nude beach celebration that brought attention to preservation of the clothing optional beaches at Cape Cod. ¹ The Naturist Society: A Brief History

On the west coast Eugene Callen founder of Beachfront USA a free beach group, saw the efforts of the Free the Free Beach Committee, and reached out to Lee Baxandall to collaborate. ² Bare It All During Nude Recreation Week Eugene Callen and Lee Baxandall developed nationwide events to make inroads on the American public’s view of beach nudity. In August 7, 1976 they designated the day as National Nude Beach Day and later National Nude Weekend. 1992 TNS expanded the Weekend to a seven day Nude Recreation Week ³ The Naturist Society: A Brief History

The American Association for Nude Recreation promotes Nude Recreation Week and encourages its network of naturist clubs and resorts to host events. According to AANR there are an estimated 300 thousand naturists in North America (the United State, Canada and Mexico. US membership according to AANR is approximately 130,000. The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) began promoting skinny dipping on the Saturday during  Nude Recreation Week in the early 2000s and designated the second Saturday of July International Skinny Dip Day in 2018. ⁴ A Brief History of Skinny Dip Day Today, Nude Recreation Week is a well-established event that is celebrated by nudists and naturists around the world.

The purpose of Nude Recreation Week is to encourage people to try nude recreation for the first time, or to simply learn more about it. Throughout North America, clothing optional clubs offer events all week long. Some clubs require AANR membership to join. Nude Recreation Week activities cover a variety of  interests from athletic, to artistic or spiritual. Join in International Skinny Dip Day on the second Saturday in July. Anyone can enjoy that, or head to a naturist venue for the week. –  Use #NudeRecreationWeek to share on social media.

There are many different ways to participate in Nude Recreation Week, including:

• Visiting a clothing-optional resort or beach
• Going for a nude hike or swim
• Attending a nude event or workshop
• Learning more about the history and philosophy of nudism

There are now NRWeek events held in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

1. At Haulover Beach in Miami, Florida, visitors can shed their clothing on the northern third of the beach.
2. Gymo-Vita Park in Pell City, Alabama, bills itself as “ America’s Most Family Friendly Nude Recreation Destination.”
3. Solair Recreation League is a 360-acre family nudist resort and campground in Woodstock, Connecticut.
4. Idaho’s Jerry Johnson Hot Springs in Clearwater National Forest is a favorite spot for nudists because of its clothing-optional warm water pools.
5. Lake O’ the Woods is a family-oriented naturist community about an hour east of Chicago. Visitors can enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, volleyball, and ping-pong.
6. Prairie Haven in Scranton, Kansas, is a family-friendly nudist park open April thru October. Group sports are available, along with camping, swimming, and hiking.
7. Martha’s Vineyard clothing-optional beaches include Moshup Beach in Aquinnah.  Martha’s Vineyard Leisure Charters offers private charter trips where nudity is permitted.

References

• 1
  The Naturist Society: A Brief History
• 2
  Bare It All During Nude Recreation Week
• 3
  The Naturist Society: A Brief History
• 4
  A Brief History of Skinny Dip Day