The lava lamp is a cultural icon of the 60’s and 70’s and is also closely tied to naturism through its inventor, Edward Craven Walker.Read More →

We are seeking either an experienced Wikipedia editor or a person with significant online experience who is willing to commit to learning the Wikipedia policies and procedures. The project is editing or creating naturist/nudist articles to improve and to add missing information in Wikipedia. Obviously this person needs to possess excellent English writing skills. They should also understand how to do research and the proper use of citations to document the source of their information. The person will not be paid or remunerated in any way in order to avoid Wikipedia’s Conflict Of Interest policies. In order to preserve that independence, we will not be givingRead More →

There is now an old school video game machine downstairs in the clubhouse. The game may be old school but the system is all new. So instead of just one game, you have the choice of 12 licensed Classic 80’s video games such as Pac-Man, Galaxian and Galaga. Unlike modern video games, these are very easy to understand. And unlike handheld games, the large console is not isolating. Everyone gets to watch and cheer you on! …or criticize your technique 🙂 Retro games should have retro prices so each play is 25 cents. We’re not likely to ever make any money this way. But neitherRead More →

The French naturist federation (Fédération française de Naturisme or FFN) posted the following yesterday: It is with deep sadness that the Fédération française de Naturisme has learned of the passing of Christiane Lecoq at the retirement home in Chatou (Yvelines), on Wednesday December 24. The funeral will be held on Friday January 2, 2015 at the Notre-Dame de Chatou church (Yvelines), place Ste Marie at 11h00 followed by the interment at the Carrières-sur-Seine cemetery where she will join her late husband, Albert Lecocq. This news sends into mourning the naturist movement not just in France but worldwide. In fact, this venerable resident of Carrières-sur-Seine, nativeRead More →

From July 7th to 14th, British Naturism held their 7th Nudefest at Newperran Holiday Park in Newquay, U.K. During their celebration they presented this special cake to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the International Naturist Federation (INF). Of course, everyone was in their birthday suits for the occasion! A special celebration is also being held at the CHM Montalivet, the actual site where the INF was founded in 1953, from September 20th to 22nd. From Bare Oaks, Nikki and Stéphane will be attending to participate in the celebrations. A little history about the INF from the INF: Naturism has a long historyRead More →

Helen & Doug Beckett in the late 1960’s at Glen Echo Family Nudist Park. Today, Doug Beckett would have been 90 years old. Sadly, he passed away last November 17th. While people often mark someone’s passing, it seems more fitting to celebrate their birth because it is a person’s arrival and ensuing existence in our world and that influences us most. So today we honour him by republishing below one of his articles from 1969. Doug and Helen Beckett were a active members and supporters of the Toronto Gymnosophical Society at Glen Echo Family Nudist Park (1955-2009). It was there that, with a small groupRead More →

Dressed appropriately for the beach in Toronto 100 years ago. All this talk about the 100-year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic has made me think about the history of naturism. You can see in the various photos of the time just how restrictive and uncomfortable clothing was. Not even the period’s bathing suit offered a respite. In their 1931 book, Among the Nudists, Frances and Mason Merril observed: “…there never was such a thing as a comfortable bathing suit. Wool scratches, cotton grows heavy and sags as soon as wet, and silk becomes slimy and nasty to the touch; either a suit is soRead More →

The call box at the entrance to Sun Valley Gardens circa 1964 Some people will have noticed that we have the old call box from Sun Valley Gardens hanging on the wall in the Bare Oaks office. The club had a significant impact on Ontario’s naturist scene. Almost every existing club in Southern Ontario (and a few that have since closed) in some way owe their existence to former members of SVG. A 1961 interview with Karl and Marlies Ruehle, owners of Sun Valley Gardens, has been posted in the CBC’s archives. They are being interviewed by a young June Callwood on CBC-TV’s Close-Up. http://archives.cbc.ca/lifestyle/living/clips/17573/ Note:Read More →