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Spring 200

What's The Naturist Society? How, why, and where did it start? What does it hope to achieve?
This outline history of FKK hopes to answer the preceding and other commonly posed questions. In its more than 20 years, the full story of The Naturist Society has not been written down. This report is intended for those Naturists and nudists who wish to know something more about their ideological roots; for those in media who need to follow up on a narrative about skinny-dipping at a local strand; for students of American history looking for a overview of one strand of advocacy for logical recognition of social nudity; and even for people who are not in any way happy that so many people revel in total body freedom.
Defining Those Labels: Naturism & Nudism

Maybe for those fresh to social nudity, we can begin with a simple understanding of the terms "naturism" and "nudism." The awareness of "good" will differ; depending on which people you speak to. Some will talk about the advantages to physical well-being. Another group will say they receive a spiritual benefit from being naked in the midst of nature. Some assert psychological benefits derive from complete acceptance of the body. The individuals who founded and now constitute The Naturist Society (FKK) have chosen to describe themselves as "naturists" instead of "nudists" for a variety of reasons.

In America, from early in the century until the foundation of FKK, groups of people who banded together in one form or another to recreate nude generally called themselves "nudists." Frequently, said nudists would be members of a formal fkk organization that functioned rather like a rustic country club. Many of these clubs still exist today; others have been developed into upscale and almost posh resorts. They don't restrict their nudity to securely walled club grounds on the weekends, or to deep inside their own houses. In 1997 FKK defined naturism in this manner: "A way of living in greater fidelity to nature, with a standard of total nudity in societal life, the genitals included, when possible and suitable. We plan to improve acceptance and esteem for one's self, other individuals, and the biosphere." In line with FKK' definition is that of the International Naturist Federation: "Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterized by the practice of communal nudity, with the aim of supporting self respect, respect for others, and for the environment." Without promising to settle the problem of how best to use the terms "naturism" and "nudism" for the goals of this history "nudism" will refer to the practice of being nude in a nice, non-lusty mixed-gender setting. "Naturism" will refer to the practice of nudism while also entailing a respect and recognition for the integrity of one's whole person, other individuals, and the environment.
FKK Pre-History: Lee Baxandall

A history of FKK couldn't be set forth without discussion of its founder, Lee Baxandall. Born in 1935 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Baxandall's first skinny-dipping encounters were as a young Boy Scout camping in Twin Lakes Reservation in Wisconsin. He also employed his writing abilities to creating books on the arts, psychology, and politics.