Although I have been to Laguna Del Sol in Wilton CA several times before on lesser holidays, the first weekend of August was my very first #NakedMan Experience. My fellow classmate, Davey (Dartmouth ’88) and his wife and sons have a lovely “crib”-like home/spa-oasis (large lap pool, in-pool jacuzzi, outdoor cabana/kitchen, and pool house/office with kitchenette/laundry, and five to seven productive fruit trees) just outside downtown Sacto, from where I have pedaled to and fro on the not terrible, but far from ideal, direct route from there to LdS. We only spotted two cyclists along the 2 hour, 35-mile pedal route, with a 105ºF high.

The countless numbers of Nudists and Pedalers (& ebikes & e-scooters & e-unicycles) zipping around 25-acre Lake Archie present on Wayne & Suzanne Schell’s massive 250-acre private compound (unlike most other local Nudist resorts with far less paved and wheelable road/trail space) seemed like another no-brainer fit for my five fellow WNBRist buddies and I to promote our upcoming remaining two rides of 2026.

I spoke extensively with one very active and tall 70-year-old, Scott, from nearby Folsom (who, as a career, helps folks navigate the booming green energy home-solar panel industry) who had just completed the 50K Rodeo Valley Trail Run/Walk along the Coast. Scott found the number of Nudist-welcoming merchants in San Francisco listed on our handout even more interesting than the exciting opportunity to get in some naked exercise and advocate for good causes while touring around a bustling cosmopolitan Nudist-Safe-Zone. He and I, and a lovely, very astute and funny Asian-American lady from San Francisco, had a long conversation in the jacuzzi touching on several aspects of Platonic Nudism to marketing and sales.

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Phil’s Woods are located in southern New Hampshire, and his cookout is the place to be on Saturday, August 8. The temperature is predicted to reach 88 degrees and, while the skies may be cloudy early, it is supposed to become partly cloudy later. There is a chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm, but that is likely to be late in the day.

Should it be necessary to take shelter briefly, Phil has some cabins, including his “chapel” and one with a hot tub. Otherwise, the clearing offers a chance to enjoy the sun and play games such as bocce or ladders. Phil will be at the grill, and will welcome any food contributions that people may bring.

More details about Phil’s cookouts appear at https://www.natnh.com/phil, and there is an option to pay online.

Otherwise, NNH members have been enjoying the festival season, with MoonGroove taking place at White Thorn Lodge in western Pennsylvania and the revival of the Eastern Naturist Gathering at Penn Sylvan Health Society in eastern Pennsylvania.

Membership

Naturist New Hampshire welcomes everyone with supportive, respective, and non-judgmental attitudes, whether they are members or not, but membership does have its advantages. Membership covers everyone in the household and provides a $10 discount on NNH event fees, which alone can quickly cover the cost of dues.

In keeping with New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die motto, we leave it to you, but offer a range of membership options, as well as separate opportunities to join AANR and TNSF through our club:

Basic Membership, at $30 per household, includes a free subscription to Living Free: Naturism & Our World, which publishes the NNH newsletter, and members will receive previews of the articles being prepared for the quarterly e-zine.

Profile Membership, at $77, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in AANR, the American Association for Nude Recreation. NNH needs to meet a membership quota in order to remain an AANR-affiliated club.

Granite Membership, at $125, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in the Naturist Society Foundation.

Supporting Membership, at $350, includes all of those features as well as helping with NNH expenses.

Gold Key Membership, at $725, covers admission for two at all NNH events, as well as all of the above benefits.

In an effort to encourage more young adults to participate in naturist activities, basic membership fees are waived for those between the ages of 18 and 35. To receive a Young Adult membership card, submit a photocopy of a driver’s license, student ID, or other documentation. Mail with the application form posted at https://www.natnh.com/join to: NNH, 125 Summer St., Bristol NH 03222.

Or:

JOIN the Naturist Society Foundation through NNH, and a portion of your fee remains with the local club.

JOIN the American Association for Nude Recreation through NNH for $47 and save $18 off the regular membership fee of $65.

Upcoming Events

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, August 8: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Sauna Party

Sunday, August 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip

Saturday, August 22: Pilgrim/NNH Trip to the nude beach at Aquinnah. INFO.

Visit To Sun Ridge

Sunday, August 23: Northern Exposure Sun Club visits Sun Ridge Resort in Connecticut.

Magical NNH Weekend

Saturday - Sunday, September 12 - 13: NNH visit to Dyer Woods Nudist Campground. Come experience nature naturally for the day or stay for the weekend, 114 Johnson Road, Foster RI 02825, 401-397-3007. Info: events@natnh.com.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, September 19: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Uncostumed Halloween Party

Sunday, October 18, Noon - 4 p.m.: Annual Halloween party around a pool in Berwick ME. Participants are encouraged to create Halloween costumes as revealing as possible. There will be a prize for the “uncostume” judged to be the best by those who are not “dressed up”. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Off The Rails Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (To Be Confirmed): Clothing-optional catered meal and social time at the Merrimack Valley Railroad Function Hall in Northfield. Info: events@natnh.com.

Yankee Swap

Sunday, December 13, 2026, 2 - 6 p.m. — Naturist New Hampshire holds its annual clothing-optional Christmas Party with a Yankee Swap gift exchange at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy NH. Event runs from 2 to 6 p.m.; no one is admitted before 2 o’clock. The event is followed by a family-style dinner featuring baked ham and baked stuffed chicken. (Please advise if you have special dietary needs: events@natnh.com.) Admission: NNH Members — singles $90, couples $170; AANR, TNSF and other naturist affiliations — singles $95, couples $180; guests — $100 per person/$190 per couple. Reservations are due Wednesday, December 9, to give the kitchen a meal count. Bring your own towel and snacks to share during the afternoon. (Note: While NNH is a family-friendly club, this facility does not allow anyone under age 18. Also note that this facility has steps that may pose challenges for those with mobility challenges.) Email events@natnh.com with any questions; please do not contact the venue directly.

As we prepare to head over to Penn Sylvan for the Eastern Naturist Gathering, we’ve received word that Bare Necessities’ Big Nude Boat Cruise is offering a discount to MoonGroove attendees. (The MoonGroove Art and Music Festival took place on July 16 - 19.) For those making reservations by August 15, there are discounts of $500 per person or $1,000 per cabin for Oceanview cabins or higher accommodations.

The Big Nude Boat 2027 will depart from Miami FL on Monday, February 15, cruising to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, and the Dominican Republic. The cruise will be aboard the Norwegian Jewel and will return on Friday, February 26.

To obtain the discount, mention MOON when making your reservation with Bare Necessities at 1-800-743-0405. (Warning: The company’s website is insecure and may compromise your computer).

As for the Eastern Naturist Gathering, it will run from Thursday, July 30, through Sunday, August 2, at the nudist resort in Mohnton PA. Organizer Rich Keyes asks attendees to be sure and bring money if they wish to purchase meals, along with their own chairs and, of course, a personal towel to sit upon.

He also suggests bringing your own drinks for hydration and thirst-quenching between meals.

Those participating in the Whiskey/Spirits Summit are asked to bring their own favorite beverage to share, and for the Wine and Cheese Social, bring an extra bottle or extra cheese to share. Those interested in game nights are urged to bring along a favorite game.

The Naturist Society Foundation will have a pop-up tent, offering a $10 discount on memberships during the Gathering.

Naturist New Hampshire and Living Free will be there with brochures and information, and will be looking to interview people about their own experiences with social nudity. See you there!

The sixth annual MoonGroove Art and Music Festival is now behind us, successfully having adjusted to a new location and overcome the challenges of compromised air quality and threatening weather. Remarkably, given the thunderstorms moving through the valley, only one musical act had to be dropped from the schedule, and the crew was able to seamlessly keep things on track.

“Being at the new location, we had a lot of things to problem-solve on the fly,” said MoonGroove Executive Director Eli Porr, “but everything all-in-all went real well. We were able to adapt with the thunderstorms and move some performers around to different locations. In the end, we only had to cancel one performance.”

July’s four-day festival, at its new location of White Thorn Lodge in Darlington PA, had a total of 1,226 people coming through the gate: 707 ticketed guests, 21 people with sponsoring organizations, 50 among the 32 vendors, 130 musicians, 20 people leading 12 workshops, 30 founders and staff members, 93 volunteers, and 175 members of White Thorn Lodge.

Guests came from the United States, Canada, Australia, Bahamas, and France. US states represented were Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

In addition to the more than 40 bands performing, the festival included workshops, with a dedicated Women’s Moon Lounge, art, yoga, tai chi, running and walking hikes, volleyball, cornhole, and bocce among the offerings. For children, there was Club Nebula to keep them engaged.

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Phil will hold his second cookout of the summer at his private wooded retreat this Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. About a dozen people attended the first cookout, enjoying the barbecue and assorted snacks, perhaps taking a dip in his hot tub, and sharing in good conversation.

Meanwhile, several NNH members made the long trip to White Thorn Lodge in western Pennsylvania for the sixth annual MoonGroove Art and Music Festival, where they met other old friends and made some new ones.

Coming up next week is the Eastern Naturist Gathering at the Penn Sylvan Health Society campground in Mohnton PA. A Naturist Society Foundation event, it is being organized by Rich Keyes, and will feature a number of workshops. NNH will have a vendor booth there.

Membership

Naturist New Hampshire meets at least monthly throughout the year, sometimes at our own events and other times getting together at other events such as the ENG. NNH welcomes everyone with supportive, respective, and non-judgmental attitudes, whether they are members or not, but membership does have its advantages. Membership covers everyone in the household and provides a $10 discount on NNH event fees, which alone can quickly cover the cost of dues.

Dues help to cover the costs of postage and maintaining the website, and now also cover the liability insurance we were able to obtain through the American Association for Nude Recreation. However, in keeping with New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die motto, we leave the decision to join up to you. There is a range of membership options, as well as separate opportunities to join AANR and TNSF through our club:

Basic Membership, at $30 per household, includes a free subscription to Living Free: Naturism & Our World, which publishes the NNH newsletter, and members will receive previews of the articles being prepared for the quarterly e-zine.

Profile Membership, at $77, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in AANR. NNH needs to meet a membership quota in order to remain an AANR-affiliated club, so your Profile Membership helps to meet that goal.

Granite Membership, at $125, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in the Naturist Society Foundation.

Supporting Membership, at $350, includes all of those features as well as helping with the ongoing NNH expenses.

Gold Key Membership, at $725, covers admission for two at all NNH events, as well as all of the above benefits.

In an effort to encourage more young adults to participate in naturist activities, basic membership fees are waived for those between the ages of 18 and 35. To receive a Young Adult membership card, submit a photocopy of a driver’s license, student ID, or other documentation. Mail with the application form posted at https://www.natnh.com/join to: NNH, 125 Summer St., Bristol NH 03222.

Or:

JOIN the Naturist Society Foundation through NNH, and a portion of your fee remains with the local club.

JOIN the American Association for Nude Recreation through NNH for $47 and save $18 off the regular membership fee of $65.

Calendar of Naturist Events

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, July 25: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Visit To Sun Ridge

Sunday, July 26: Northern Exposure Sun Club visits Sun Ridge Resort in Connecticut.

Eastern Naturist Gathering

Thursday - Sunday, July 30 - August 2: The Naturist Society Foundation revives the Eastern Naturist Gathering at Penn Sylvan Health Society. Check for updates on the ENG Facebook page. Contact Rich at tnsf.eng@naturistsociety.com about workshops, volunteers, and other information. To reserve your space, contact Penn Sylvan at 717-445-6330.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, August 8: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Sauna Party

Sunday, August 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip

Saturday, August 22: Pilgrim/NNH Trip to the nude beach at Aquinnah. INFO.

Visit To Sun Ridge

Sunday, August 23: Northern Exposure Sun Club visits Sun Ridge Resort in Connecticut.

Magical NNH Weekend

Saturday - Sunday, September 12 - 13: NNH visit to Dyer Woods Nudist Campground. Come experience nature naturally for the day or stay for the weekend, 114 Johnson Road, Foster RI 02825, 401-397-3007. Info: events@natnh.com.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, September 19: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Uncostumed Halloween Party

Sunday, October 18, Noon - 4 p.m.: Annual Halloween party around a pool in Berwick ME. Participants are encouraged to create Halloween costumes as revealing as possible. There will be a prize for the “uncostume” judged to be the best by those who are not “dressed up”. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Off The Rails Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Tentative): Clothing-optional catered meal and social time at the Merrimack Valley Railroad Function Hall in Northfield. Info: events@natnh.com.

Yankee Swap

Sunday, December 13, 2026, 2 - 6 p.m. — Naturist New Hampshire holds its annual clothing-optional Christmas Party with a Yankee Swap gift exchange at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy NH. Event runs from 2 to 6 p.m.; no one is admitted before 2 o’clock. The event is followed by a family-style dinner featuring baked ham and baked stuffed chicken. (Please advise if you have special dietary needs: events@natnh.com.) Admission: NNH Members — singles $90, couples $170; AANR, TNSF and other naturist affiliations — singles $95, couples $180; guests — $100 per person/$190 per couple. Reservations are due Wednesday, December 9, to give the kitchen a meal count. Bring your own towel and snacks to share during the afternoon. (Note: While NNH is a family-friendly club, this facility does not allow anyone under age 18. Also note that this facility has steps that may pose challenges for those with mobility challenges.) Email events@natnh.com with any questions; please do not contact the venue directly.

Arctic Escape

Saturday, January 16, Noon - 4 p.m.: Clothing-optional swim party at a warm private pool in Berwick ME. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Heartwarming Reunion

Sunday, February 21, Noon - 4 p.m.: Clothing-optional swim party at a private pool in Berwick ME. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Unwearin’ o’ the Green 2027

Sunday, March 21, 2027, 2 - 6 p.m. — Naturist New Hampshire holds its annual clothing-optional St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy NH. Event runs from 2 to 6 p.m.; no one is admitted before 2 o’clock. The event is followed by a family-style dinner featuring corned beef and baked haddock. (Please advise if you have special dietary needs: events@natnh.com.) Admission: NNH Members — singles $90, couples $170; AANR, TNSF and other naturist affiliations — singles $95, couples $180; guests — $100 per person/$190 per couple. Reservations are due Wednesday, December 9, to give the kitchen a meal count. Bring your own towel and snacks to share during the afternoon. (Note: While NNH is a family-friendly club, this facility does not allow anyone under age 18. Also note that this facility has steps that may pose difficulties for those with mobility challenges.) Email events@natnh.com with any questions; please do not contact the venue directly.

Springtime At Last

Saturday, April 17, Noon - 4 p.m.: Clothing-optional swim party at a private pool in Berwick ME. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Those new to social nudity face both personal and societal challenges that sometimes are hard to overcome. Having someone who can guide them through their questions with first-hand knowledge of what it is like to begin such a journey can make the difference between a one-off experience and a long, enjoyable commitment to clothes-free living.

That is just the task that Ojo and Daisy have taken on. Known as the Naked Newbies, they aim to bridge the gap between newbies and seasoned nudists/naturists. Their mission is to promote naturism through community outreach, festivals, and travel.

The Naked Newbies found the MoonGroove Art and Music Festival to be just the sort of event that can provide an easy entry to naturism.

“To me,” Daisy says, “success is looking out and seeing all this diverse group of people, like in this festival, it’s like 90% nudity. It’s like insane. This is so successful to me.”

“Everything can’t be accomplished behind the internet or the screen, right?” Ojo said. “So, creating just more community-like reasons” to experience naturism allows people to interact and learn more about it.

“With the internet, you know, there’s probably like 90% of people just watching, like never probably trying [naturism]. So, like any internet traction is not indicative of what success is.”

“The nude scene, especially, I feel like it’s just such a vulnerable thing to be nude around, like, people,” Daisy said, “and on the internet, it’s like, I don’t really care. Like you can see a photo, but you’re never getting the same feeling.”

Those face-to-face interactions ease the way, she says. “They’re actually like, ‘Oh, my God, this is a real person just like me.’”

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Our publication schedule will be a little erratic during this festival and the Eastern Naturist Gathering later this month, so please bear with us. We’ll make it all up with the stories we come away with.

Just an hour’s drive from Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park, Toronto was (and still remains) the home of the online web show, “Naked News”. If you have not heard of Naked News, the premise is very simple: Female anchors present news and features either fully naked or while disrobing. It is wildly successful, has been around since 1999, and the format has been copied all over the world. The anchors deliver the daily news (who is fighting whom, which national leader is behaving like a spoilt baby — it’s all serious stuff) with features on sports, arts and entertainment, and, yes, occasionally something about naturism.

The women may start dressed (and there really aren’t many articles of clothing worn), undress, and are naked in almost a blink of an eye. I guess it is designed to be titillating. The majority of the show is presented — as you might expect from the title — in the buff.

For us naturists, it’s no big deal. They are clearly very comfortable being nude, perhaps more so than delivering a script in front of a camera. They get paid to work naked. How many of us naturists wouldn’t mind that? So, would these naked presenters call themselves naturists? Perhaps a better question might be: Would we ardent naturists call them naturists?

On the one hand, naturism is a way of living and being. It’s what you believe and how you behave. As naturists, we believe that living life without clothes, when it makes sense to do so, in a communal environment can lead to greater acceptance not only of our own bodies but of others, too. The transparency of such encounters is an important social leveler and fosters a judgment-free environment of tolerance. It increases our sense of well-being and, frankly, it just feels darned good. Working as an anchor on Naked News is just that: work. It’s a job that just happens to require you to be nude. So does being a life model or, on occasion, an actor. Is being nude for a specific work requirement, even if you enjoy the feeling of being clothes-free, sufficient to call yourself a naturist?

If you watch the Naked News presenters and see how comfortable they are working without clothes, it might not be surprising if we conclude that perhaps some of them may well embrace a naked lifestyle away from the cameras. Would that make them naturists? But what about the titillating stripping part? Well, we all get undressed to enjoy our nude recreation, though admittedly, we don’t typically do it in such a seductive manner. Remember that Naked News is a commercial enterprise and glamorous ladies removing their clothes teases men (and some women, presumably) to stay and pay. Nudity may sell — but sex (or the lure of it) sells more.

I was thinking about this one Saturday morning whilst attending the annual Bodyfest gathering in Canada’s Bare Oaks Naturist Park. It was the start of another glorious summer day and people were reclining on sun beds, some chatting, others reading, some just simply watching dozens of folks performing downward dog and other such strangely named maneuvers on yoga mats spread across a vast lawn. I was one of about 60 people already up. We were aged from 20 to 80, varying shades of white, red (ouch) and brown; none of us had the physique of Michaelangelo’s David or Brigitte Bardot in her heyday (though some were closer than others), some had tattoos, others piercings, and some sported make-up. We were all naked.

I was there once again to shoot the activities, and I recognized many of the attendees from previous years. We had all got one year older and, though there were plenty of “Hellos” and smiles, there was also a lot of head-scratching too, trying to remember whether one was speaking to Bill, Charlie, or Robert. There were new faces, too — many under 40 — mingling with the “regulars” and injecting some very welcome youth, energy, and laughter, and helping to offset our rising average age. We were warm, relaxed, and exchanged greetings with friends new and old. It was a gentle start to a day of planned naked events. It felt good to be a naturist.

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In This Issue: Take Time To Escape Into the ‘Real World’ - Montpelier WNBR Sets New Record - Polar Extremes and the Middle Ground - Vermont Hikers Undeterred By Rain - A Slow and Steady Climb Up Red Hill - Naturist Naturalists: Pura Vida in Costa Rica - Naturist Opportunities Are Hiding in Plain Sight - Numbers Demonstrate Ballot Initiative on Nudity Is Viable - MoonGroove Festival Announces Musical Lineup - Images That Haunt, Nourish, and Provide Revelation - The Art of the Nude

Paid subscribers will have access to the e-zine through a link below. All readers may purchase a PDF or print copy of Living Free: Naturism & Our World Number 29 by visiting Naturist New Hampshire’s store at https://www.natnh.com/store.

While at the Marketplace, those interested in past issues of the magazine may want to order collections of Living Free magazines. Volume 1 includes issues number 1-5 in a 128-page, perfect-bound edition. Volume 2 contains issues 6 - 10 in a 112-page, perfect-bound edition. Volume 3 includes issues number 11 - 15 in a 128-page, perfect-bound edition.

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The Vermont Naked Solstice Hike is one of my favorites, but with the unsettled weather forecast, coupled with recent periods of gout, I was hesitant about committing to it this year. As the date approached, I decided the trip was too long to make with such uncertainties.

The morning of the summer solstice arrived with no rain and indications that the sun was trying to break through the clouds, so I reconsidered my options. There is no shortage of hiking trails in the Lakes Region, from easy walks to challenging climbs, and I already was preparing to write a story about the Lakes Region Conservation Trust’s 2,239-acre Red Hill Conservation Area in Moultonborough and Sandwich, a popular destination because of its fire tower overlooking a vast expanse of forest and lakes. Perhaps that would be a better option.

Ernest Dane, a resident of Center Harbor, had paid the state to erect a fire tower atop Red Hill to replace the Lakes Region’s original fire tower, situated on Mount Israel in Sandwich. His offer called for the construction of the new tower, a cabin, and a telephone line, as long as the state agreed to maintain it. If the state ceased to use fire tower, its rights to the land would terminate.

The state dedicated its new 27-foot tower in 1927. Seven years later, in 1934, a well was blasted into the ledges near the base of the tower to provide water for the resident watchman and his family.

The tower was raised to 45 feet tall in 1939, and an additional 10 feet in 1972. However, the state closed the tower in 1981 and, according to the terms of the lease, the property reverted to the Dane family.

The Town of Moultonborough later leased the tower to ensure fire protection, putting the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association in charge of the lookout service.

It was not until the turn of century, in 2000, that the Lakes Region Conservation Trust purchased the land with its fire tower and the summit of Red Hill. The tower subsequently was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register in 2003.

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Reports from participants in the Vermont Naked Solstice Hike indicate that it was a great success, despite worrisome weather forecasts for the weekend.

A group of eight joined in a pre-solstice hike on June 20, enjoying a rain-free 6.5-mile trek from the Big Branch parking area up and over Green Mountain, and down to Little Rock Pond.

On Sunday — the actual summer solstice — a larger group of 19 formed the main hiking party for the traditional 10.5-mile route, from Wallingford down to Little Rock Pond again, via the White Rock overlook and the goblin village. The group paused for lunch at the top of White Rocks Cliffs.

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Partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a rain shower, and a high of 81° — that is the official forecast for this Saturday at Phil’s Forest. Slight chance of a shower means it’s not likely. In other words, a nice day for a cookout.

The first of Phil’s summer cookouts this year takes place this Saturday, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a fee of $30. Bring a towel, flip flops, and food to share, along with a lounge chair if you wish. Click the link below for full information.

In addition to June 27, Phil’s schedule of cookouts has dates of July 25, August 8, and September 19.

NNH members also will be attending the MoonGroove Art & Music Festival at White Thorn Lodge in Darlington PA on July 16 - 19 and the Eastern Naturist Gathering at Penn Sylvan Health Society in Mohnton PA on July 30 - August 2, before resuming the club’s own events with a joint trip with Pilgrim Naturists to Martha’s Vineyard on August 22 and a Magical NNH Weekend at Dyer Woods on September 12 - 13.

Membership

Naturist New Hampshire welcomes everyone with supportive, respective, and non-judgmental attitudes, whether they are members or not, but membership does have its advantages. Membership covers everyone in the household and provides a $10 discount on NNH event fees, which alone can quickly cover the cost of dues.

In keeping with New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die motto, we leave it to you, but offer a range of membership options, as well as separate opportunities to join AANR and TNSF through our club:

Basic Membership, at $30 per household, includes a free subscription to Living Free: Naturism & Our World, which publishes the NNH newsletter, and members will receive previews of the articles being prepared for the quarterly e-zine.

Profile Membership, at $77, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in AANR, the American Association for Nude Recreation. NNH needs to meet a membership quota in order to remain an AANR-affiliated club.

Granite Membership, at $125, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in the Naturist Society Foundation.

Supporting Membership, at $350, includes all of those features as well as helping with NNH expenses.

Gold Key Membership, at $725, covers admission for two at all NNH events, as well as all of the above benefits.

In an effort to encourage more young adults to participate in naturist activities, basic membership fees are waived for those between the ages of 18 and 35. To receive a Young Adult membership card, submit a photocopy of a driver’s license, student ID, or other documentation. Mail with the application form posted at https://www.natnh.com/join to: NNH, 125 Summer St., Bristol NH 03222.

Or separately:

JOIN the Naturist Society Foundation through NNH, and a portion of your fee remains with the local club.

JOIN the American Association for Nude Recreation through NNH for $47 and save $18 off the regular membership fee of $65.

Naturist Calendar

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, June 27: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Skinny Dip Day

Saturday, July 11: International Skinny Dip Day.

Sauna Party

Sunday, July 12, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

MoonGroove Art & Music Festival

Thursday - Sunday, July 16 - 19: MoonGroove Music & Arts Festival at White Thorn Lodge, Darlington PA. Info: https://www.moongroovefestival.com.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, July 25: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Visit To Sun Ridge

Sunday, July 26: Northern Exposure Sun Club visits Sun Ridge Resort in Connecticut.

Eastern Naturist Gathering

Thursday - Sunday, July 30 - August 2: The Naturist Society Foundation revives the Eastern Naturist Gathering at Penn Sylvan Health Society. Check for updates on the ENG Facebook page. Contact Rich at tnsf.eng@naturistsociety.com about workshops, volunteers, and other information. To reserve your space, contact Penn Sylvan at 717-445-6330.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, August 8: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Sauna Party

Sunday, August 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip

Saturday, August 22: Pilgrim/NNH Trip to the nude beach at Aquinnah. INFO.

Visit To Sun Ridge

Sunday, August 23: Northern Exposure Sun Club visits Sun Ridge Resort in Connecticut.

Magical NNH Weekend

Saturday - Sunday, September 12 - 13: NNH visit to Dyer Woods Nudist Campground. Come experience nature naturally for the day or stay for the weekend, 114 Johnson Road, Foster RI 02825, 401-397-3007. Info: events@natnh.com.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, September 19: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Uncostumed Halloween Party

Sunday, October 18, Noon - 4 p.m.: Annual Halloween party around a pool in Berwick ME. Participants are encouraged to create Halloween costumes as revealing as possible. There will be a prize for the “uncostume” judged to be the best by those who are not “dressed up”. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Off The Rails Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Tentative): Clothing-optional catered meal and social time at the Merrimack Valley Railroad Function Hall in Northfield. Info: events@natnh.com.

Yankee Swap

Sunday, December 13, 2026, 2 - 6 p.m. — Naturist New Hampshire holds its annual clothing-optional Christmas Party with a Yankee Swap gift exchange at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy NH. Event runs from 2 to 6 p.m.; no one is admitted before 2 o’clock. The event is followed by a family-style dinner featuring baked ham and baked stuffed chicken. (Please advise if you have special dietary needs: events@natnh.com.) Admission: NNH Members — singles $90, couples $170; AANR, TNSF and other naturist affiliations — singles $95, couples $180; guests — $100 per person/$190 per couple. Reservations are due Wednesday, December 9, to give the kitchen a meal count. Bring your own towel and snacks to share during the afternoon. (Note: While NNH is a family-friendly club, this facility does not allow anyone under age 18. Also note that this facility has steps that may pose challenges for those with mobility challenges.) Email events@natnh.com with any questions; please do not contact the venue directly.

With 55 riders and 17 walkers, the 2026 World Naked Bike Ride in Montpelier VT set a new attendance record, with an added a stop at Dairy Creme establishing a new tradition. Last year, there were between 55 and 60 participants.

It is likely that even more would have attended if the word had gotten out in time. The official World Naked Bike Ride wiki site did not not confirm Montpelier’s event until the night before. Up to that point, although the Saturday, June 13, date was listed on the site, it included the note, “I have set up an email address, wnbrmontpelier@gmail.com for anyone who wants to help me organize this years ride. I am not from the area, so I need local volunteers to help plan the route and make any other local arrangements! Not a requirement, but if you are planning on riding, please email me so that I will know that I’m not alone! Keep up to date either here or on our Twitter page. If anyone wants to help plot a different route let me know!”

There was no update to indicate that it actually would take place until June 12, when the site announced, “The ride is on, rain or shine! Looks like it will rain early in the day then will be cloudy for the meet up, and possibly the clouds will clear for the ride. Fingers crossed & see you tomorrow!”

Likewise, Montpelier Area Events did not list the World Naked Bike Ride this year, although it had posted the notice for the past three years.

Only members of a private Facebook page were able to get accurate information about the 2026 ride, and Facebook glitches had prevented several interested people from joining that page. Group leader Joe Gratton-Pinsonneault had posted on February 15 that he had sent out an email reminder to the Montpelier chief of police that the annual event would take place, as usual, on the second Saturday of June, but those unable to see that announcement were understandably worried that problems might arise if authorities were unaware of this year’s ride.

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To paraphrase blogger Noah Smith, a couple of decades ago, the internet was an escape from the real world. Now, the real world is an escape from the internet.

Where can we find the “real world” these days? Almost anywhere we go, we find ourselves surrounded by people on their smartphones or giant screens showing sports or newscasts, or are asked to use the internet to make reservations for meals or transportation. There are QR codes to get information at national parks and monuments. One cannot even place an order at a Dunkin’ counter without being told to wade through the options at an online kiosk.

Well, we know a place where we can enter the “real world” — getting out in nature or stopping by a naturist resort. Going to a beach, wandering through the woods, hiking up a mountain, or setting out across a desert landscape, the internet connection disappears. Entering a resort where smartphones are restricted, one has to rely on personal contact for most interactions.

Personal contact is the key to a richer life. Multiple studies have shown how phone addiction is leading to alienation and depression. “Humans were meant to be individuals — unique, independent incubators of ideas and desires, not terminals or the fingers of a world-mind,” Noah Smith writes.

A working paper by Leonardo Bursztyn, Benjamin R. Handel, Rafael Jimenez, and Christopher Roth, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, supports the benefits of disconnecting. They examined college students’ use of TikTok and Instagram, finding “large shares of active users prefer each platform not to exist”.

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If naturism really means “connecting with nature” — feeling the sun and the breeze on bare skin and the sand between the toes — it also means being susceptible to the bugs that love to bite, sometimes in places that are embarrassing to scratch. New Hampshire is known for its black flies and voracious mosquitos, and they are not at all concerned about whether someone is naked or dressed, as long as they can score a successful meal.

Steven Grasse, founder of Tamworth Distilling, is well-aware of the problem. “Anyone from rural New Hampshire knows that bug season, which happens from May to mid-July, is no joke,” he said. “We have mosquitoes and black flies the size of pterodactyls. At Tamworth Distilling, we draw inspiration from the land around us, and Skeeter’s is no exception.”

He is referring to Skeeter’s Nootkatone Flavored Whiskey, which he describes as being “designed for bug-free summer cocktails” — and it has become the “Official Cocktail Modifier of Naturist New Hampshire”.

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“In 2006, they made marijuana the lowest priority in San Francisco, so that always stuck in my mind,” George Davis said while discussing the genesis of a new ballot initiative seeking to establish a city policy that would make enforcement of public nudity offenses the lowest law enforcement priority.

“I got to thinking of, well, just the math involved to cast a policy initiative like that requires basically 10,644 registered voters out of 533,000 voters, and you know, by doing the math, like more than half the people will show up in a general election, and the math on those that have no problem with public nudity — in the United States, it’s about 60 percent; in Europe, it runs about 90 percent; and in San Francisco, it should be somewhere in between a European number and the United States number. So I go, oh, hold it, the math says you win. So, basically, that was kind of the start of it.”

George got the balling rolling, recognizing that July 3 is the deadline for submitting a petition with the required number of signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. Although the time is short, he believes that June, being Pride Month, provides the perfect opportunity to collect those signatures.

“Pride Month, with all the parades and festivals in that month, [is] clothing-optional,” George noted.

He came up with the idea of making a documentary about the signature-collection effort, which he estimates will cost about $225,000. He said it can be distributed through a dedicated website, as well as on platforms such as Vimeo and through members of the American Association for Nude Recreation, FreiKorperKultur, British Naturists, and the Naturist Action Committee. He said the documentary should reach at least 100,000 international viewers.

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Eighty-year-old George Davis of San Francisco is heading up an effort to document a ballot initiative that seeks to establish a city policy to make enforcement of public nudity offenses the lowest law enforcement priority.

“Public nudity is neither a federal nor a state crime,” he says. “Existing San Francisco ordinances allow nudity for government-permitted fairs, parades, and festivals.”

He asserts, “Public nudity has minimal risk and can be psychologically healthy for participants and bystanders. Efforts to address enforcement inconsistencies by city officials have been unsuccessful. The petition represents a practical solution to ensure fair treatment of nudist citizens.”

Davis’ proposal is to create a documentary film on the ballot initiative and those gathering signatures. The documentary will highlight the efforts to obtain the 10,644 valid signatures required to put the petition on the November ballot, based upon there being 533,000 registered voters.

“Key documentary segments will feature at least one nude young male and one nude young female as signature-gatherers, working as a couple. Filming is scheduled during San Francisco Pride Month, June 2026, an event attracting an estimated million attendees, approximately 15-20% of whom are registered San Francisco voters,” he says.

The documentary would show nudists and nudist allies collecting signatures in public spaces as part of the democratic process, showing nudists as normal people doing normal work. Their presence demonstrates the human body with all of its body parts as being normal and natural. The filmmakers also will capture the reactions of both voters and the public.

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With Memorial Day coming early this year (a week ahead of the “real” traditional observance on May 30), the focus already is on summer activities, and it just happens that two NNH members have stepped forward with plans for summer gatherings on their private property.

The first such event is a pool and hot tub party at Jim’s Bristol home, on Friday, May 29, from 6 to 10 p.m. He and his wife have a heated outdoor pool, a four-person hot tub, and an inside pool spa that guests are welcome to enjoy. They will be serving fresh crock-pot food and appetizers. For further information, call Jim at 603-630-8583.

Then, back by popular demand, is Phil’s cookouts at his private wooded property in southern New Hampshire. He has scheduled the pot-luck gatherings on June 27, July 25, August 8, and September 19. Guests are welcome to visit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further information, click HERE.

NNH will be joining in the Pilgrim Naturists of New England’s day trip to the nude beach at Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, August 22. Tom Moore, who is a member of the Northern Exposure Sun Club as well as NNH, will be the trip leader again this year.

There is still a chance that NNH will be scheduling other activities this summer, but members also will be present at the Northeast Naturist Hiking & Skinny Dipping Enthusiasts’ Summer Solstice Hike on Sunday, June 21, the Maine Coast Solar Bares’ sauna parties, the MoonGroove Art and Music Festival, and the return of the Eastern Naturist Gathering.

Still uncertain is the World Naked Bike Ride in Montpelier VT, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 13, with riders and walkers gathering at the Dog River Park & Ride (20 Dog River Road) at 1 p.m., with the ride to the State Capitol beginning at 2 p.m. As of May 22, the website states, “I have set up an email address, wnbrmontpelier@gmail.com, for anyone who wants to help me organize this year’s ride. I am not from the area, so I need local volunteers to help plan the route and make any other local arrangements!”

Membership

Naturist New Hampshire welcomes everyone with supportive, respective, and non-judgmental attitudes, whether they are members or not, but membership does have its advantages. Membership covers everyone in the household and provides a $10 discount on NNH event fees, which alone can quickly cover the cost of dues.

In keeping with New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die motto, we offer a range of membership options, as well as separate opportunities to join AANR and TNSF through our club:

Basic Membership, at $30 per household, includes a free subscription to Living Free: Naturism & Our World, which publishes the NNH newsletter, and members will receive previews of the articles being prepared for the quarterly e-zine.

Profile Membership, at $77, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in AANR, the American Association for Nude Recreation. NNH needs to meet a membership quota in order to remain an AANR-affiliated club.

Granite Membership, at $125, includes the features of Basic Membership, along with membership in the Naturist Society Foundation.

Supporting Membership, at $350, includes all of those features as well as helping with NNH expenses.

Gold Key Membership, at $725, covers admission for two at all NNH events, as well as all of the above benefits.

JOIN the Naturist Society Foundation through NNH, and a portion of your fee remains with the local club.

JOIN the American Association for Nude Recreation through NNH for $47 and save $18 off the regular membership fee of $65.

Naturist Calendar

Pool/Hot Tub Party

Friday, May 29, 6 - 10 p.m.: Jim’s Pool/Hot Tub Party at his home in Bristol, with light dinner included. Donation: $20 at the door. Call 603-630-8583 for further info.

Sauna Party

Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

Solstice Hike

Sunday, June 21: Celebrate 2026 Naked Hiking Day with the Northeast Naturist Hiking & Skinny Dipping Enthusiasts. With the Summer Solstice falling on Sunday this year, there also will be an opportunity to join a clothing-option hike on Saturday, June 20. INFO.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, June 27: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Skinny Dip Day

Saturday, July 11: International Skinny Dip Day.

Sauna Party

Sunday, July 12, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

MoonGroove Art & Music Festival

Thursday - Sunday, July 16 - 19: MoonGroove Music & Arts Festival at White Thorn Lodge, Darlington PA. Info: https://www.moongroovefestival.com.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, July 25: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Eastern Naturist Gathering

Thursday - Sunday, July 30 - August 2: The Naturist Society Foundation revives the Eastern Naturist Gathering at Penn Sylvan Health Society. Check for updates on the ENG Facebook page. Contact Rich at tnsf.eng@naturistsociety.com about workshops, volunteers, and other information. To reserve your space, contact Penn Sylvan at 717-445-6330.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, August 8: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Sauna Party

Sunday, August 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Maine Coast Solar Bares’ monthly swim at Richmond Sauna with BBQ. Info: mcsbs@yahoo.com.

Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip

Saturday, August 22: Pilgrim/NNH Trip to the nude beach at Aquinnah. INFO.

Magical NNH Weekend

Saturday - Sunday, September 12 - 13: NNH visit to Dyer Woods Nudist Campground. Come experience nature naturally for the day or stay for the weekend, 114 Johnson Road, Foster RI 02825, 401-397-3007. Info: events@natnh.com.

Cookout At Phil’s Forest

Saturday, June 19: Phil welcomes guests to a pot-luck meal at his private property in southern New Hampshire. Information.

Uncostumed Halloween Party

Sunday, October 18, Noon - 4 p.m.: Annual Halloween party around a pool in Berwick ME. Participants are encouraged to create Halloween costumes as revealing as possible. There will be a prize for the “uncostume” judged to be the best by those who are not “dressed up”. Bring your own towel and snacks to share. NNH will provide deli meats and drinks. Info: events@natnh.com.

Off The Rails Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Tentative): Clothing-optional catered meal and social time at the Merrimack Valley Railroad Function Hall in Northfield. Info: events@natnh.com.

Yankee Swap

Sunday, December 13, 2026, 2 - 6 p.m. — Naturist New Hampshire holds its annual clothing-optional Christmas Party with a Yankee Swap gift exchange at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy NH. Event runs from 2 to 6 p.m.; no one is admitted before 2 o’clock. The event is followed by a family-style dinner featuring baked ham and baked stuffed chicken. (Please advise if you have special dietary needs: events@natnh.com.) Admission: NNH Members — singles $90, couples $170; AANR, TNSF and other naturist affiliations — singles $95, couples $180; guests — $100 per person/$190 per couple. Reservations are due Wednesday, December 9, to give the kitchen a meal count. Bring your own towel and snacks to share during the afternoon. (Note: While NNH is a family-friendly club, this facility does not allow anyone under age 18. Also note that this facility has steps that may pose challenges for those with mobility challenges.) Email events@natnh.com with any questions; please do not contact the venue directly.

— Vincent Marty, Founder of NaturismRE

When confronted with the unconventional, many people react negatively. There are times to push back forcefully at detractors, and other times when respectful disagreement is the proper course. I determined that the latter was the case during an encounter with a disturbed man at the start of a naked hike.

The incident occurred on May 17 when, on the opposite side of the United States, San Francisco’s Bare to Breakers event — a 12-kilometer foot race established in 1912 that runs from the R-Evolution statue on Market Street to Ocean Beach — was taking place in an atmosphere supportive of nudity, despite the city’s recent attempts to restrict nakedness. The 113th Bay to Breakers race brought out an estimated 30,000 participants and went off without much of a hitch. There were no reports of unfortunate accidents or bad behavior.

Naturist New Hampshire’s pre-solstice warmup hike in Groton State Forest in Vermont, on the other hand, was dampened by one man’s objection to exposed flesh. It was a first-time event with eight hikers in a state where public nudity is legal with limited exceptions. We did not anticipate any problems.

Back in 2004, during the last of Jim C. Cunningham’s Vermont Naturist Photo Safaris, models and photographers led by Michael Cooney visited a number of swimming holes over several days to capture the naked form in nature. In moving from location to location, we often made impromptu stops along the way, including at a greenhouse and beside a covered bridge on a well-traveled road. The experience at the bridge was particularly inspiring, for although parents were swimming in the river and children were jumping from the wooden structure into the water, they were unconcerned about people disrobing to pose just downstream for the photographers.

Twenty-two years later, what was almost universally accepted as normal has become problematic. As the NNH group was preparing to leave the parking lot for a hike up to the Owls Head Overlook, a couple came down the trail and went to their car. After dropping off his gear, the man strode back to confront us about out “disgusting” nakedness.

I reminded him that nudity is legal in Vermont, but he responded that just because it’s legal does not mean it’s right.

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Ask people which places are on their travel bucket list and there’s a good chance you’ll find Costa Rica to be a popular pick. Why? Well, it has an almost perfect climate all year round, glorious beaches on two oceans, rain forests, volcanoes, and it is blessed with a biodiversity second to none.

This central American nation has been on our own travel bucket list ever since we watched David Attenborough oozing superlatives about the vast range of flora and fauna to be found in this small country that’s about the same size as Denmark.

My wife and I were lucky enough to finally realize this bucket-list dream recently and, although we knew our naturalist interests would be well-sated, we doubted we would be able to enjoy our naturist lifestyle there. After all, googling “naturism in Cost Rica” doesn’t offer up many opportunities, and you might come away feeling the “Ticos” are not really that into social nudity. Although there are no laws specifically banning public nudity, there are public decency laws, and being seen nude in public can fall into the “indecent exposure” category, which may result in legal jeopardy.

Having said that, Costa Rica recently joined the International Naturist Federation (INF), so we figured there must be some naturists there, and they must hang out somewhere. The question was: where?

As naturalists (yes, you read that correctly), we love the raw, yet-to-be-screwed-up by-man natural beauty of this planet’s spaces, and to that end, Costa Rica’s pristine beauty, teeming with exotic wildlife, takes some beating. We tramped through lush rain forests where trees disappeared into the clouds and palm fronds the size of small vehicles, dripped with dew. We stood on the edge of a still-active volcano crater (and coughed as the sulfurous gases bubbled to the surface); we dipped our toes into sparklingly clear pools at the base of high cascading waterfalls; walked in the clouds; lay on golden sandy beaches; and swam in the warm Pacific. We saw Toucans and many brightly colored exotic birds, crocodiles lazing at a river’s edge, frogs and spiders it’s best not to touch, capuchin monkeys stealing people’s lunch, and scorpions only visible in UV light.

We were in naturalist heaven. If only we could have experienced some of this in the most natural way, nude.

Costa Rica is Catholic and conservative, so our chances of getting naked were going to be limited, but, with some planning and lots of good fortune, we managed to enjoy moments in this wonderful country in the most natural way — as naturists.

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