Scout skinny dipping experiences
Return to DiscussionsMy first skinny dip was at Scout Camp after I had become Eagle. I had had the opportunity to skinny dip as a Tenderfoot, but was too paranoid that my parents would find out. Years later, I learned that my father had assumed from day one that all our Scout swims were skinnydips! Had I known that, I would have done it first chance I got.
As it was, I was working on the camp staff in 1976 and we just finished securing camp for the Fall at the end of the Summer, and we finished up earlier than expected. The camp director opened up the waterfront, but must of us were in long pants. Someone asked if we had to wear clothes to swim and the camp director said not as far as he was concerned.
That was it! My first 'offically sanctioned' skinnydip opportunity after finding out that my parents didn't mind. Along with about 80% of the camp staff, I was butt-naked in the swimming area and loving it.
I stayed involved in Scouting through college, and was part of a High Adventure Explorer Post that did a lot of backpacking, canoeing, etc. We had a tradition of skinnydipping at least once on each trip where water was available - even if there was ice in the water - we just lit a bonfire first so we could warm up afterward.
Throughout the 1980s and up until around 1995 I was involved in several troops as an adult leader, and we always partook in skinnydipping on our wilderness trips, with full knowlege (and therefore implied consent) of the parents.
It is fantastic to meet other camp staff workers as well. I joined my local camp staff in 2003 after several members of my Troop began working there. I was only 15 when I began working there and it would take me a few years to learn about and embrace my nudist side. We had your common group shower time, and to this day showering outdoors with the sunlight on my body is my guiltiest pleasure. Our skinny dipping adventures were at night because we did not have the permission from our camp director. We grabbed some kayaks from the dock because they were the quietest to launch and paddled over to a bend where his cabin could not see what we were up to. It was only 5 or 6 of us, but I immediately liked it and knew I had discovered something important. When I turned 18 I became the director of the nature lodge. That meant I lead a lot of hikes, and got to know the lesser used parts of the camp property (2000 acres worth). On my hours off I would begin sneaking out to those rarely used trails, tossing my clothes in my backpack, and stomp around on my own. It was bliss. When I turned 21 I became the program director of the entire camp and you know that a lot of the up tightness and rules against that kind of stuff began to dissipate. I've very proud to have given other young guys the opportunity that my older peers gave me.
Would have been cool to experience skinny dipping with my troop. We were from a smaller town though and sponsored by a church so skinnydipping would have caused some "I can't believe they did that" reactions. Plus word would have gotten out around school about you and your troop and we would have caught a lot of teasing from it. Just a different circumstance and situation.