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What is The Naturist Society? How, why, and where did it begin? What does it hope to accomplish? And why is it headquartered, of all places, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin?

This outline history of FKK hopes to answer the preceding and other commonly posed questions. In its more than 20 years, the full narrative of The Naturist Society has not been written down. This account is intended for those Naturists and nudists wishing to understand something more about their ideological origins; for those in media who need to follow up on a narrative about skinny dipping at a local plage; for students of American history seeking a summary of one strand of advocacy for rational acceptance of social nudity; and even for those who are not in any way happy that so many folks revel in total body freedom.

Defining Those Labels: Nudism & Nudism

Maybe for those awesome to social nudity, we can start with a brief understanding of the terms "naturism" and "nudism." Both refer to the belief that non-lewd, family-friendly social nudity is a great thing. The sense of "good" will differ; depending on which individuals you talk to. Some will discuss the advantages to physical health. Others will praise the feelings of freedom and relaxation that come from being bare out of doors. Another group will say that they receive a religious advantage from being naked in the midst of nature. outside in the fresh air and sun! It felt amazing... so derive from total approval of the body. The people who founded and presently constitute The Naturist Society (FKK) have selected to describe themselves as "naturists" instead of "nudists" for many different reasons. Europeans who practice social nudity have historically have referred to this set of beliefs and practices as "nudism," and the word connotes a connectedness with nature FKK seeks to nurture.

In America, from early in the century until the formation of FKK, groups of individuals who banded together in one shape or another to recreate nude usually called themselves "nudists." Often, said nudists would be members of a formal fkk organization that functioned rather like a pastoral country club. Many of these clubs still exist today; others have been developed into upscale and nearly posh resorts. Naturists, to the degree they think about it at all, like to differentiate themselves from nudists by stressing the value and pleasure of social nudity in as many aspects of their lives as possible. 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 nudism in this manner: "A way of living in greater fidelity to nature, with a norm of full nudity in societal life, the genitals contained, when feasible suitable. We aim to enhance acceptance and esteem for one's self, other individuals, and the biosphere." In line with FKK' definition is that of the International Naturist Federation: "Nudism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterized by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self respect, respect for others, and for the environment." Without promising to settle the dilemma of how best to use the terms "naturism" and "nudism" for the purposes of this history "nudism" will refer to the practice of being bare in a nice, non-sexual mixed-sex setting. "Naturism" will refer to the practice of nudism while also entailing a respect and acceptance for the integrity of one's whole person, other persons, and the environment.

FKK Prehistory: Lee Baxandall

A history of FKK could not be set forth without discussion of its creator, 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. After receiving his master's degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Baxandall moved to Fresh York, where he became active writing, interpreting, and critiquing plays. He also employed his writing abilities to making books on the arts, psychology, and politics. His political activism at this time prepared him for Understood, it promptly discarded Christ's commitment to poverty, but it clung tightly to sexual asceticism as a in nudism to come.