MalloryKeaton

http://www.click2houston.com/news/3476704/detail.html

ACLU Challenges Nude Teen Camp Ban

POSTED: 8:16 am EDT June 30, 2004

RICHMOND, Va. -- The American Civil Liberties Union is suing to keep Virginia from banning a nude summer camp for teens.

Virginia passed a law in March that effectively shuts down White Tail Park, a weeklong residential camp for 11- to 18-year-olds.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court, saying the law violates the constitutional right to privacy.

The group's Virginia director says according to the law's logic, legislators would be able to prevent children from things like swimming, playing baseball or riding a bus.

Virginia's attorney general has said nudist teen camps could attract pedophiles and child pornographers.

The American Association of Nude Recreation says the camp is the first of its kind in Virginia, and only the third in the nation.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

*Lauren

My question is, who would SEND their kids to a nudist camp, especilly at 11 years of age? If they made it from 16 (that's the legal age right?) to 18/19 then I could kinda agree with it, but not 11 year olds.

mh67511

Yeah...I too would wonder why an 11 year old would be go/be sent there. Can't be healthy for development.

Raonaild

Parents who were also nudists themselves.
What isn't healthy is making nudity some huge, nasty taboo. What's wrong with kids getting used to nudity, seeing that it isn't such a big deal.
I'm sorry, but that's just stupid logic. By that reasoning, kids shouldn't legally be allowed expensive toys either, because it might attract thieves. The person to punish is the potential pedophile or pornographer, not the nude child.

mh67511

Well there's a reason they call them your "privates." Anyways I think it is just plain weird to send a child to a nude camp. Would make packing a cinch though...don't they get lots of bug bites, cuts...lol do they go on nude hikes?? Would their counselors be nude too and how old would they be....that's what I'm wondering.

Katis

Yeah...nudist camp for kids? No. I don't think it's ok to have kids running around naked in front of adults (the councelors and stuff). If they were really little like 3 or 4 it would be different, but 16? When I went to camp the councelors were usually in their late teens early twenties, that's just asking for trouble.

TheAngel

Well, considering the fact that in today's society, nudity can't be considered without something sexual added, you'd have fifty kids go out and seventy-five come back, all the girls would be pregnant. Whether you want to argue that or not, naked boys and naked girls are not exactly able to control themselves, especially from about fourteen on. Also, being nude is more or less taboo. I don't want to see most people naked, I don't want people seeing my kids naked, or seeing me naked. If the kids were eighteen, then yes, even sixteen is a little young and we're talking sexually charged teens here. Of course, according to the ACLU I should be allowed to kill someone and it be protected under my right of free expression.

migamoo

Personally, I don't see a problem with a nudist camp. If the parents are comfortable, the kids comfortable and counslers are comfortable with it, why can't they have one? I'm not saying 11 year olds should be able to go. I think it should be at least 16 as the youngest age. Hopefully by then, the teens are mature enough. Also, the counslers would also have to be thoroughly checked. They should meet certain requirements, ie not be a pedophile or accused/convicted of a sex crime.

Ashley

TheAngel

Every pedophile or anyone that commits a sex crime has a first, why wouldn't it be on these kids. Besides, even at sixteen kid's don't have the judgement and aren't responsible enough to be thrown together, naked, in a group. I should know, I'm seventeen and I'm dumb as hell.

migamoo

Well, I'll be 19 next month and I know I'm not the smartest person in the world. It all has to do with how mature someone is. I don't know, it's hard to explain.

Ashley

Citizen Sarah

I would argue that kids attending that camp would be LESS likely to be abused then kids atttending most kinds of camps-- I'm sure it'll be much stricter with regards to what councillers can/cannot do. Children get abused in all kinds of places- in churchs, hospitals and most often in their own homes.
I'm sure most councillers would find it highly offensive for people to assume that they're going to abuse the kids.

While its not something I'd personally want to do theres nothing wrong with being naked!

alli balli

I don't think its a bad thing to have a nudist camp. Obviously the kids who would be going there will have been raised in a nudist environment. Its not like they'd get there and immediately start having orgies just because they're naked. I'd assume they'd be used to it.

Exactly...I guess its not safe to send kids to church anymore, either? Because they could be abused!

TheAngel

Well in that case, lock yourself in a bubble for the rest of your natural lives. Of course, going to church, school, home, is a risk for some, going to a nudist camp opens yourself up for a different type of risk. Since they allowed people age 11-18. If it had been 11-17 then it would have been better because at 18, you don't need parental concent, they could just sign up to go see naked chicks or something stupid like that. It's like walking down a dark alley. You might emerge from the other side unhurt, but you're still putting yourself at risk. To believe that these kids would only be abused by councilors probably isn't accurate. There are other campers, and whether or not these kids had been raised in a nudist environment, some might not have been. It's just too much of a what if question.

mh67511

Allowing 11 year olds and 18 year olds (and possible older counselors) to freely roam around nude is NOT appropriate, AT ALL.

Elizajoey

To me personally, I wouldnt want to go to one.

However, I have no issues with children getting in touch with their body and not being embarassed about it.
I know I grew up being embarassed about what I look like and has resulted in a few psychological problems so I encourage any parents who have children who would wish to do it to send their children there. If they are comfortable in their own skin, then that is a brillant thing.