Teen Nudist Camp Irks Ariz. Politician (different story)

Associated Press ^ | 08/01/03 | Associated Press

[bedolido]

PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona's House speaker said he's worried about a nudist summer camp for teenagers and is urging an investigation.

Jake Flake said he would encourage the Maricopa County Prosecutor's Office to investigate the camp at Shangri La Ranch, a clothing-optional resort just north of Phoenix. He said he's concerned about adults seeing the children and teens naked.

"I have to think that they are breaking some laws somehow. Indecency or something," Flake told The Arizona Republic in Friday's editions.

State law allows nudity on private property, even among minors with parental permission.

About 15 youths, aged 11 through 17, attend the camp, which is not open to the public.

Horst Kraus, who bought Shangri La Ranch in 1997, said adult nudists see naked children, theirs and those of other nudists, all the time. He said the kids are in a safe environment and there is no lewd behavior.

Anyone who displays inappropriate behavior in a nudist resort is thrown out and placed on a "do-not-admit" list that circulates to nudist groups nationwide within 24 hours.

Last month, Florida Congressman Mark Foley criticized a nudist camp there for children ages 11 to 17. He asked Gov. Jeb Bush to investigate the camp, saying children were being exploited and in danger of sexual abuse.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[Hodar]

"I have to think that they are breaking some laws somehow. Indecency or something," Flake told The Arizona Republic in Friday's editions.

"So, we'll just harass them until we find something?" Good grief ... tax dollars at work.

[mfulstone]

Send in Janet Reno!

[BlazingArizona]

I've been to the camp cited in the article. It's a family atmosphere, and veryone there is either late middle-age or very young. The one group you never see is teenagers, for that is the age when body consciousness peaks.

[Lunatic Fringe]

"So, we'll just harass them until we find something?" Good grief ... tax dollars at work.

I can think of countless other things that are truly wasteful of tax dollars. Naked children running around with naked adults? It should be looked at very closely.

[sgtbono2002]

There have been nudist camps for years and all ages have gone there, I worry a lot less about the morals in Nudist camps than I do about morals in homosexual High Schools.

[biggerten]

Are you trying to be funny?

I hope so, caused I snorted my Pepsi.

[Lurking Libertarian]

If God wanted us to go naked, we wouldn't have been born with our clothes on!

[meenie]

Why did God put hair on the ape though? His son Jesus seemed to stay covered up. Just curiouser and curiouser.

[mfulstone]

His son Jesus seemed to stay covered up

Really? How do you know?

[Lunatic Fringe]

I hope so, caused I snorted my Pepsi.

Snorting Coke is better.

[meenie]

I'm sorry I offended a nekked libertarian.

[mfulstone]

Well, meenie, In Jesus time, Israel was under Roman rule but their customs were more Hellenic than Roman. Nobody thought anything much about nudity in its proper place. For instance, sporting events or bathing in public.

I would bet that folks who went down into the Jordan to be baptised took off all their clothes, Jesus included.

[Steely Glint]

It's a good thing Janet Reno is out of office.

[honeygrl]

"I have to think that they are breaking some laws somehow. Indecency or something," Flake told The Arizona Republic in Friday's editions.

That translates to: "I don't like it so it must be against the law."

[meenie]

Let your conscience be your guide. If you wish to take your clothes off, by all means feel free to do so. Just don't try to convince me to take mine off in spite of all the naked evidence in the Bible. The very essence of libertarian thought is independent thought and action.