Kane - I have been saying for the past couple of years that "non-landed" or "social/travel clubs" will be one of the fastest growing sectors for nudity. Between the cost of resorts, geographical barriers to a resort close to home, and the resistance to change, will force organizations and resorts to re-think their business plans. I am hoping it will be sooner rather than later.
Excellent piece with salient points on how these kinds of events are breaking ground while the naturist establishment struggles. There’s a lot for the establishment to learn, but also a lot of opportunity for other grassroots groups to embrace this model. Thanks, Linda!
Enjoyed this skillfully written article exposing a new innovation in helping naturism reach another audience. Often organizations fail to modify and adapt to changes that would help invigerate their group with new people. Naturism/Nudism is no different. Your article, like some others on Planet Nude, point out additional paths to bring a younger and wider group of devotees to social nudity. These kinds of ideas are crucial in establishing a larger base of support to sustain naturism/nudism in a modern world.
"The reluctance of naturist organizations to evolve and consider out-of-the-box ideas jeopardizes their future relevance."
And that is almost the complete story. Nudists are generally risk averse. Nudist organizations are, in their own way, very conservative. Change is more frightening than cultural extinction.
Innovation almost always comes from outside established organizations and is almost always viewed with suspicion. Yet a turtle must stick its neck out if it is to get anywhere.
Fred - I completely agree with everything you stated. As a Director for the Western Region of AANR, I have not been shy when it comes to mentioning what needs to be done to keep the organization on track to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. Change is uncomfortable; however, what worked before and maintaining the status quo is no longer relevant.
AANR West may run into problems with all the clubs and resorts and activities we've lost in California. It feels like the list grows every time I check. The aging demographic should have been sounding alarms a decade ago.
The resorts being sold to non-nudists appears to have been a wake-up call for family-owned resorts and perhaps now action will finally happen. Unfortunately, it took several losses to sound the alarm.
I live north of Los Angeles. I have to travel a hundred miles to get to the nearest club. Unfortunately, Olive Dell has been listed. The owner says it isn't up for sale; he just wants to know how much he could get. I do not feel reassured. I enjoy the Naked Beer Mile and all the hiking trails.
It has been brutal in Southern California. Given the price of real estate and how small the nudist market is out here, "travel clubs," (SCNA) scattered nude beaches, rare events like the WNBR, and at-home naturism may soon be all that is left. I'd love to see a paradigm shift but I am not holding my breath.
What a wonderful idea. The perfect blend of enjoying a food and naturist experience. This is great approach to making naturism multifaceted and more enjoyable. Hope see more growth in this type of approach. Will do wonders for naturism. Thank you for sharing, Linda! Jan&Gary 👍
Evolving is so Linda. Embracing change is hard but vital to success.
As someone who is interested in naturalism but never experienced it I’d want the industry to evolve.
Naturist organizations appear to be focused inward, preoccupied with bolstering their dwindling numbers, propping up aging resorts, resource guarding of ideas, and non-partisanship on issues threatening our nude privileges. There also seems to be a general aversion to stepping outside long-established comfort zones or eschewing the status quo. The failure to recognize the changing needs and expectations of younger generations jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of naturist organizations as their membership ages and dwindles due to the mortality of its members.
Kane - I have been saying for the past couple of years that "non-landed" or "social/travel clubs" will be one of the fastest growing sectors for nudity. Between the cost of resorts, geographical barriers to a resort close to home, and the resistance to change, will force organizations and resorts to re-think their business plans. I am hoping it will be sooner rather than later.
Excellent piece with salient points on how these kinds of events are breaking ground while the naturist establishment struggles. There’s a lot for the establishment to learn, but also a lot of opportunity for other grassroots groups to embrace this model. Thanks, Linda!
Thank you, Timothy!
Enjoyed this skillfully written article exposing a new innovation in helping naturism reach another audience. Often organizations fail to modify and adapt to changes that would help invigerate their group with new people. Naturism/Nudism is no different. Your article, like some others on Planet Nude, point out additional paths to bring a younger and wider group of devotees to social nudity. These kinds of ideas are crucial in establishing a larger base of support to sustain naturism/nudism in a modern world.
Thank you, Jeffrey!
"The reluctance of naturist organizations to evolve and consider out-of-the-box ideas jeopardizes their future relevance."
And that is almost the complete story. Nudists are generally risk averse. Nudist organizations are, in their own way, very conservative. Change is more frightening than cultural extinction.
Innovation almost always comes from outside established organizations and is almost always viewed with suspicion. Yet a turtle must stick its neck out if it is to get anywhere.
Fred - I completely agree with everything you stated. As a Director for the Western Region of AANR, I have not been shy when it comes to mentioning what needs to be done to keep the organization on track to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. Change is uncomfortable; however, what worked before and maintaining the status quo is no longer relevant.
AANR West may run into problems with all the clubs and resorts and activities we've lost in California. It feels like the list grows every time I check. The aging demographic should have been sounding alarms a decade ago.
The resorts being sold to non-nudists appears to have been a wake-up call for family-owned resorts and perhaps now action will finally happen. Unfortunately, it took several losses to sound the alarm.
I am not sure what action they can take.
I live north of Los Angeles. I have to travel a hundred miles to get to the nearest club. Unfortunately, Olive Dell has been listed. The owner says it isn't up for sale; he just wants to know how much he could get. I do not feel reassured. I enjoy the Naked Beer Mile and all the hiking trails.
It has been brutal in Southern California. Given the price of real estate and how small the nudist market is out here, "travel clubs," (SCNA) scattered nude beaches, rare events like the WNBR, and at-home naturism may soon be all that is left. I'd love to see a paradigm shift but I am not holding my breath.
Heavy sigh!
Hey Linda
What a wonderful idea. The perfect blend of enjoying a food and naturist experience. This is great approach to making naturism multifaceted and more enjoyable. Hope see more growth in this type of approach. Will do wonders for naturism. Thank you for sharing, Linda! Jan&Gary 👍
I think ive seen that before I believ isn't that just strictly all females
Hi Ethan - there are offerings for co-ed experiences as well.
Evolving is so Linda. Embracing change is hard but vital to success.
As someone who is interested in naturalism but never experienced it I’d want the industry to evolve.
Naturist organizations appear to be focused inward, preoccupied with bolstering their dwindling numbers, propping up aging resorts, resource guarding of ideas, and non-partisanship on issues threatening our nude privileges. There also seems to be a general aversion to stepping outside long-established comfort zones or eschewing the status quo. The failure to recognize the changing needs and expectations of younger generations jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of naturist organizations as their membership ages and dwindles due to the mortality of its members.