About the Camping Bares

WHAT WE ARE - We are a clothing-optional travel club not affiliated with a clothing-optional resort. We are located in Southern California with most members and activities centered on San Diego. The Camping Bares has been in continuous activity since 1976. As of December, 1997 our mailing list number was over 350; our membership is actually higher than that since many newsletters go to households with more than one Camping Bare

The Camping Bares are formally disorganized. We have no written charter or by-laws. Our officers hold their offices by popular acclamation. Decisions at our meetings are reached by consensus of the members present.

WHAT WE ARE NOT - We are NOT a "swinging" or sex group and we also are not a source for pornographic pictures. The group is NOT a place to pick up or "hit on" women, men, girls or boys. If you are looking for those sort of things you are in the wrong place. Furthermore the group is not a place to aggressively "push" a business. While many of our members are in business and have Camping Bares for customers, advertising is passive and using membership list to telemarket or mass-mail Camping Bares can be grounds for expulsion from the group.

WHAT WE DO - Our objectives are primarily to have a good time while enjoying life naturally which we define as being nude. We find that people who like to be nude in the open air are much more comfortable when they are in a like-minded group. We never pressure anyone to disrobe and we have some Camping Bare couples in which one member of the couple is not a nudist. Several members have commented that while they were initially attracted to the Camping Bares in order to be nude in the open air, they have found that the "extended family" ambiance of our club is a more important factor.

We generally go camping or on day hikes one weekend a month. Some events are backpack trips which may be several days in length, and some are car camping. Some campers use tents; the rest have RV's, vans, pickup campers or sleep in the open air. We charge nothing for our camping trips except for the occasional outside charge for the facilities we use. Although we occasionally visit nudist parks and Black's Beach, we mainly camp in National Forest or BLM land areas. Many of our trips are to natural hot springs where we hike in and enjoy primitive hot tubs or simple hot pools.

During summer months we often have an evening hike during the work week in a San Diego Area park ground. Since these are in urban areas they are usually not clothing-optional. Although we may find a remote place to skinny-dip or sunbathe we use these hikes to socialize or get into shape for more rigorous trips.

Most of our trips are planned to be within a reasonable drive for anyone in Southern California with a free weekend. On occasion we have a two-day "canuding" trip on the lower Colorado River in the wildlife sanctuary north of Yuma. Also we usually have an annual three day houseboat trip on Lake Mead, Lake Powell or other large lake. We do try to take advantage of three-day weekends for longer trips whenever possible. Sometimes individual Bares organize long trips such as white water rafting, extended back pack trips or even excursions to foreign places like Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa

We try to avoid confrontations with the authorities or the public. We prefer federal (Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service) land where nudity is legal and not regulated. We may also camp in California state parks, if we can get a site away from the general public. The California State Park rangers have a policy of not taking action on nudity unless they have received a complaint from a member of the public. They do not cite unless a request to cover-up is not promptly complied with. We have had only one Camping Bare cited on a Camping Bare outing, and that was over 20 years ago. We have also had pleasant camp outs in San Diego county parks, confining nudity to hikes away from the campground and in areas not visible from other campsites. Most of the local rangers are well aware of us. They welcome our presence in their areas since we obey regulations, are careful with ground fires wherever allowed, protect the environment, and leave our campsite at least as clean as we found it if not picking up the trash left behind by clothed campers

BUSINESS MEETINGS - We have a general meeting once a month at the home of one of our members. We usually have a potluck dinner at the meetings. Bring a prepared dish or soft drink to share, for alcohol bring your own if you wish to drink. After the dinner or on occasion before hand we will have a business meeting. Many Bares have hot tubs and or swimming pools that they will open up to those attending the meeting. We may or not be able to get nude at a meeting, it depends the wishes of the hosts and concerns such as lack of privacy, ask first. NOTE - If you are nude always sit on a dry towel or blanket if using someone else' furniture or floor.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS - There is only one requirement and that is to have an official Camping Bares Uniform. If you take off all your clothes you will notice that you already have an issue of our uniform, so what you need to join has been present since your birth. Some members are single, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, age, political opinion, marital status, sexual orientation or national origin. Members of the Camping Bares are of all ages although you must be over the age of 18 to join. Member's children under the age of 18 years are considered members, and can participate in events if accompanied by their parents.

GUESTS - Your guests are generally welcome at all Camping Bares functions, use your discretion as to the appropriateness of the guest and the event. After attending several events, people you invite as guests are requested to join the Camping Bares in order to participate in future events.

NONPROFIT - We are not a money making business. All of our officers and leaders are unpaid volunteers. Dues cover the cost of the newsletter with a little left over to buy consumables such as paper plates and to pay for items like the web site or voice mail. All other purchases are approved by a general consensus of members attending a monthly business meeting. Most events are free for members who choose to participate, other than their transportation and meal costs. At times we have special excursions such as river rafting, canoeing or visits to resorts that necessitate charging fees.

CONFIDENTIALITY - Our mailing list is kept strictly confidential and used for distributing the newsletter and for contacting members for official business. Membership information is not sold, traded or given away to sales or marketing concerns.

AFFILIATIONS - The Camping Bares is an affiliate of The Naturist Society, which is a national organization for groups and individuals interested in naturism. Paid-up Camping Bares may join The Naturist Society at the discounted annual rate. Membership includes a direct mail subscription to the quarterly magazine Nude and Natural. The Naturist Society membership card is usually sufficient to gain entrance to a nudist park and may also get you a discount on the gate fee.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS - Being part of a naturist organization helps the naturist movement overall. When politicians, law enforcement or religious activists try to control, curtail or otherwise adversely affect our activities, it helps to have a big block of supporters. Many Bares support the Naturist Action Committee which uses lobbyists and other methods to maintain clothing-optional freedom.

If you are interested in joining the Camping Bares download the Application and mail it us via the postal service, the address is on the application.