Keeping Naturism Suitable For All
Family friendly naturism is not just about ensuring naturism stays safe for families it is about it staying safe for everyone. It is about naturism having a future and for that future to be one we are proud of.
Welcome to Our Naturism or O.N. for short - pronounced Owen
In May 2008 we shared our first social naturist experience together. It was a trip to a beach in France Plage de Nantois, Pléneuf-Val-André, France. This was the start of the naturist lives of Anna and Steve.
The years have passed and during that time Owen saw us becoming a married naturist couple, and then a naturist family with 2 boys. Owen took them on their first beach visits when only a month old and they are now 13 and 17. Owen has visited over 60 beaches, joined events, stayed at various naturist venues and campsites and incorporated naturism into our daily lives at home, in the garden, hiking and more. Owen has explored naturism around the UK, and also in France, Portugal and Spain.
Owen has guided us to write around 500 articles for websites, newsletters, magazines and of course ANW. The 325 articles shared on ANW are collected into a Journey Reading Order
ANW has been a part of Owen for many years. We planned and collected information from 2009 and started building ANW in earnest in 2015. Developing an internet presence in 2016 and creating our first blogs and videos as A Naturist Family in 2018, eventually launching ANW to the world in May 2020 12 years after Owen's first naturist adventure.
Over the last 6 years Owen's life has expanded and Owen shares the ANW community with 15450 individuals, couples and families from all over the world. Owen's hope has always been that its passion for sharing naturism with the world will inspire other ANW-ers to use ANW to make friends, impart information, answer questions, support the 4000+ naturist opportunities that form the Explore section and to produce a naturist platform that feels more like a giant, global club rather than some cold internet experience.
Owen becomes an adult
So May 2026 is not just the 6th birthday of ANW but it is also the month that our own personal naturism, Owen turned 18.
Owen has now reached a milestone that if it was human would classify it as an adult. Currently that would mean Owen could smoke, buy alcohol, vote, get a tattoo, get a credit card, take out a loan, get a mortgage, go to see what was once known as an X-rated film, serve on a jury and be convicted for a crime as an adult. It would also mean that Owen could take part in the ever growing number of naturist venues and events that do not allow our real children in. Owen is frustrated by that limitation and feels it is unfair and also concerning.
Owen may be an adult in years but its approach to naturism is the same as the attitude it had in 2008 when just a baby! Owen's naturism could be considered as very similar to the definition shared by naturism back in 1974, long before Owen was even born. Owen believes that Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment. As far as Owen is concerned being an adult is of no relevance to how it should consider naturism, just as being a child should have had no negative effect on it ability to enjoy and embrace naturism.
Owen looks at the definition and see no mention of age but does see ideas like “self-respect and respect for others.” Owen believes that we are never to young to embrace that principal. Owen looks at the definition and also see no mention of any relevance of being an adult. So Owen doesn't believe that the new abilities of being 18 have any contribution to its naturism. In fact Owen believes the idea of being an adult gets in the way of better understanding and appreciating naturism. Being an adult is often about being old enough to take part in things that are deemed unsuitable for children and doesn't see how that has any relevance to naturism. It isn't about voting or serving on a jury, you certainly don't need to get drunk or smoke to enjoy it, most of the time you will not need a loan to take part and it certainly isn't X-rated. Far from it. Sexuality has nothing to do with naturism, in fact Owen finds the innocence that naturism gives nudity is refreshing, healthy, positive and reassuringly family friendly.
Owen will always be a child at heart.
Owen believes that no matter how old a person becomes their naturism should stay firmly planted into the innocence of childhood. The giggling nudity of a toddler running away from its parents while they try to dress it. The childlike pleasures of being comfortable and free in nature. That instinctive joy of being human that actually relishes in the body rather worries about it. The natural and wonderfully non-sexual pleasure of fully embracing the parts of our bodies that adults consider “naughty” rather than hiding them away like a guilty secret only to get them out for grown up moments or in times of shame and embarrassment.
So Owen is proud to be a year old, and have another year of naturist experiences to look back on but see the turning point of being an adult of no importance what so ever. Owen intends to always be a child at heart, and treat naturist with the natural innocence of that child.
Yet Owen is concerned.
When Owen was born only 18 short years ago naturism seemed a much simpler idea. It was embraced by Anna and Steve with ease. They understood what it meant and knew that it would be the most natural thing in the world to allow their family to grow with it.
Owen fears that at another time he may not ever have been born? Owen asks: what if Anna and Steve were looking at naturism in 2026.
Owen looks at the short period it has taken to reach adulthood and realises that the world is no the same as it was in 2008 and neither is the worlds understanding of naturism. Owen knows naturism is just the same as it always has been, it is no different to 1974 when the definition was created, but people's attitudes have changed and this places the definition into a delicate situation.
In 2008 the world felt like a safer place. When Owen was born general social media was only really in its infancy but as it grew it brought problems. Society has also changed as has the conviction of naturism itself. Owen sees 18 concerns that have come to light during the last 18 years.
1. The loss of privacy. The huge rise of Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram and many more has lead to a world where every one feels that they are being watched all the time. Your choice to be a naturist can easily be made public whether you like it or not. Our private choices no longer feel private. Naturists either became very fearful of their naturism coming out, hiding it like a guilty secret only discourages pride. Rejected it altogether to ensure it remained a secret or “came out” on line but this often meant they appeared like exhibitionists or were subjected to pestering and unwanted behaviour.
2. The online abuse of naturism. Social media accounts were soon used to pander to people's perversions. People stole images and/or took sneaky photographs of strangers to share on social media. Those who tried to share naturism were attempting to work along side fakes and the average non-naturist could not tell the difference. Naturism started to be considered as purely exhibitionist by many people – and the growth of self serving and attention seeking “naturist celebrities” did little to help this image.
3. Naked prostitution. Along with this rapid expansion of public sharing came a growth in making money from nudes. Blurring the lines between what is naturism and what isn't. And bringing nudity into an argument demanding censorship.
4. Greater fear of strangers. Large scale news stories like the Jimmy Saville case brought a paranoia into every day life. It felt like we were being told that danger lay behind ever corner. The idea of children having adventures was being replaced by children being kept out of sight.
5. Children take to the internet. As children are spending less time out and about they fill their time with the internet. Following in the footsteps of the adults around them. But nudity and behaviour on the internet is out of control and this causes immediate concern. The internet is obviously not suitable for children but it is being used by them all of the time.
6. Confusing messages. Children are being told that nudity is wrong that perverts are waiting to grab you but they are also being told that internet nudity is very normal, makes you popular and earns you money. So they think nothing of sharing nudes or semi-nudes online, but feel that nudity in sports changing rooms or on a beach is shocking and dangerous. The opposite to the lessons they should be learning.
7. An obsession for protection. It wasn't just children. New attitudes towards society meant that everyone started walking a fine line between sensible behaviour and illogical upset. We are encouraged to feel angry and hate: based on gender, age, religion, sexuality, colour and culture. Say the wrong thing and you become hated. People become social pariahs for assumptions about their lives. Dirt is thrown and it sticks without proof, evidence and education. Shout loud enough and people listen: You don't have to make any sense! And that voice only needs to come from a place or person of influence. Europe's attitude towards nudity is being actively shaped by the internet's influence lead by stronger fearful attitudes displayed in north America.
8. Things are out of control. The fears of complaints lead to illogical decisions. Signs in changing rooms tell people not to shower naked in case it offends others including protecting children who are in the changing rooms with their parents as they may see adults naked. Despite the internet sharing dangerous nudes to children, innocent, harmless nudity is given a new and dangerous meaning.
9. Naturism receives protests and bad press. People who fear sexualised nudity and abuse incorrectly aim protests at naturism in a scattergun approach to showing disapproval of anything that involves nudity particularly when children are also involved. When one person does something unsuitable on a naturist beach it is treated as an indication of how naturists behave. If someone misbehaves on a non-naturist beach it is treated with the logical idea that it is one person and not the whole beach!
10. Naturism retreats and rejects. Rather than proudly deny any concern and talk about the positives of naturism for families naturism takes the path of least resistance. Better to quietly hide families and in some cases reject them rather than have complaints from protestors. Families end up feeling unwanted and let down by organised naturism. Naturism puts the “naturist celebrity” onto a pedestal, as no matter what their intention may be at least they appear to be promoting the existence of naturism, even if the message they send out is confusing and at times damaging.
11. The growth of adult only naturism. The new pattern of pretending families do not exist and creating adult only events to stop the protestors actually leads to a trend in adult only naturist experiences and venues. A trend that is heightened by a recent growth in seeing children as being “in the way.” Children living in fear of adults have lost the ability to function in adult society. The children who are not protected are often the ones who are not best behaved. The increasingly indulgent world encouraged by the internet is one where the adults want to play, and that is understandable as many young adults didn't get to play when they were children!
12. Bad habits and low expectations. We have got so used to not mentioning families that we have stopped even noticing that they are not welcome. Skinny dips and charity events are organised, venues are created, trips are arranged, dates are set and it has become so common place to not welcome families that it isn't even questioned. Where are the families? Why are there no children? Why wouldn't we want everyone involved in this? Questions that are not encouraged and no answers are demanded. It is almost like families just never existed.
13. The inevitable blurring of lines. The anything goes approach to life on the internet. The need for adults to “play” and the removal of children/families from naturism is encouraging a change in behaviour. Naked parties without children are much easier to get out of hand and see inappropriate behaviour being displayed. This blurring of lines is also played out in dunes. The blurring of lines inevitably bring the wrong people into naturism and discourages the right people – not just families but also couples and individuals.
14. The growth of segregation. The obsession for protection has lead to a growth of mistrust and a need to show inclusion without consider equality and true integration. As we see families quietly ignored and removed we also see a growth in interest in sexuality and gender. Women are offered safe spaces suggesting that men in naturism are a danger and events are organised based on sexuality. Leading to further confusion on the true nature of naturism and whether it is truly suitable for all, especially families.
15. The internet kicks back. The war on sexual sharing as the internet tries to clean up its act is a confusing one. A person in skimpy clothes can get away with the most outrageous behaviour and a person who is innocently naked on a beach is censored for indecency. Each year see naturisms ability to promote more and more hampered. The current and ever increasing growth of AI has added to this as we struggle to know what is real and to understand how humans genuinely feel about things.
16. Children and the internet. Despite the internet being an unhealthy place for children on many levels nudity again is an easy target. Any image, post, video or activity that hints that children may be naked or around people that are naked become a total no go. All decent people want to protect children from abuse, but we have to recognise where the abuse is to do the job properly. Naturism once again becomes a victim in the cross fire.
17. Ever decreasing circles. Can we really expect to encourage families when there is nothing obvious to entice families into naturism? No obvious events and venues. Families are few and far between on beaches. Finding fellow families for your children to play with at clubs and campsites is getting tougher and tougher. Those families who do exist will start looking for non-naturist experiences so they can feel welcome and find friends. Particularly when these new families see that naturism is behaving like there is a reason to protect children and women from single men.
18. We get the world we ask for. A self-fulfilling prophecy. By fixating on a fear, we subconsciously alter behaviour, heightening anxiety and prompting reactive choices that can inadvertently make the feared outcome a reality. We are actually seeing a rise in anger, violence, fear, paranoia, bigotry and prejudice played out on a political, national and international scale. Rather than allowing a more natural balance to be found we are pushing to hard and it results in chaos, inequality and frustration. Naturism is at the receiving end of this nonsense. It has lost trust, it is failing long standing communities, organisations are disappointing us, segregation has replaced unity, majorities feel unwanted, sexuality feels over played. Family naturist venues have been lost to a more libertine experience. Sexual liberation has been used as an excuse for the misuse of dunes. Thoughts suggesting that children should be protected from naturism have lead to a need to protect children from genuine inappropriate behaviour. In short the more we imagine there is a need to worry, the more we create a reality where there is a reason to worry.
Owen's Reality
Owen has seen ANW celebrating the idea and importance of Getting Real.
Looking back over the last 18 years of change Owen is not convinced that the world or naturism has become more real. One naturist website actually uses photo-real AI videos of computer generated people voicing the site owner's want to encourage people to believe there are men and women from every corner of the globe within its membership.
Owen worries that if Anna and Steve were to come to naturism today instead of 18 years ago they would not have found genuine naturism, would not have trusted it, and Owen would never have been born at all. That A Naturist Family would not have exosted and they would never have created ANW.
Owen understands that Anna and Steve's commitment and passion for naturism and ANW is something that is part of them, but asks if they have found that commitment and passion if they discovered naturism in 2026?
Owen at times feels like a photograph of Marty McFly in Back to the Future. So many reasons that could have allowed Owen to fade away:
Promoting naturism on the internet has become tougher and tougher.
Social media has no respect for naturism. It used to be easy to share a naturist post, but in recent years the rules have pushed naturism into a corner. Some social media sites are overwhelmed with porn – naturism is tainted by being there. Others have gradually tightened the strings. No genitals, to no nipples, to no buttocks, to wording being questioned. Children and families are not allowed to appear to exist at all and even the safest of posts on naturism are now being deleted as “selling sex.” There is no way that the A Naturist Family videos could find a home on places like You-Tube today with new on nudity existing. Yet in 2018/2019 Owen had found us around half a million subscribers on YouTube. We never made a single penny though as nudity at the time was allowed but couldn't be monetised. We decided it was better to show naturism properly and not censor it to get viewing and advertising revenue.
Some organised naturism has left Owen feeling saddened, disappointed, angry and frustrated.
During parts of 2023 Owen felt so fed up with naturism that it it was only the community of ANW that reassured Owen that naturism was worth fighting for. The back biting politics, self serving behaviour, the cheap tricks, the rude treatment of the naturist community by people within the naturist community, the value placed on naturist influencing, articles and posts in magazines and on social media that blurred the lines of what naturism is, the lack of interest in traditional aspects of naturism like clubs, community and people, the value found in segregation, the neglect of families, coupled with the obsession with sexuality and the growth of adult only naturism left Owen feeling depressed. If Owen didn't already have a commitment and love for naturism then that may have been the end of the journey.
Taking part in an organised forum exploring naturism for women Anna was shot down and treated with contempt by some members for suggesting that naturism should also consider that many women have male partners that they wish to share naturism with and more importantly that 80% of women have children by the time they are her age. Her argument that encouraging families also encourages women was written of as self serving due to her having children of her own without due consideration placed on the fact that she was voicing a way of promoting naturism to 4 out of 5 women, but also making sure that the 20% of women who remain childless see naturism as a safe environment. The presence of families suggests stability and security.
The enemy within.
Owen has witnessed naturists actually undermining the existence of what Anna and Steve do. Rather than being embraced as a genuine couple/family creating a platform for real naturism to grow, be understood and flourish. ANW has been treated by some naturists as a threat, as competition, as a danger! Owen has been left bewildered by this as all real naturists should be working together to grow naturism, build a supportive network and share a universal united voice bought together by a belief in the definition created in 1974 and the knowledge that naturism is something that can have a positive affect on all of society. Owen has witnessed Anna and Steve being used by some naturists when it has suited them, and then rejected and ignored when these naturists were being asked for the reciprocal support. Owen has also seen ANW posts reported by fellow naturists to social media in an attempt to keep ANW hidden from view. Complaints that have surely encouraged the idea that naturism itself should be considered sexual by these websites. Such is the drive of certain people in naturism to shut out ANW that they in effect shut out all of naturism. Owen has seen certain naturists join social media groups as admin and then remove Anna and Steve from those groups. Owen has seen certain naturists hide their own activity from Anna and Steve. This and other such behaviour seems against the nature of naturism and not representing the culture of trust and friendship that should be seen as positive of naturism.
A growing negativity.
The rise of segregation along, the adult only movement and a need to prove that naturists will be protected and offered safe spaces has left Owen wondering where the future for naturism lies. The segregation creates an idea that men are being treated with greater mistrust and families are just ignored. The protests of a few people back in 2019 seem to have cast a giant looming shadow over naturism, but one that seems to have coincided with an excuse to actively promote naturism for young adults partying with their sexuality being embraced as vitally important. Owen witnessed groups of naturist couple and families suggesting meeting up for picnics and beach visits. Only to be warned that if they go to non-paying events they cannot be protected from the danger out there. Even the freedom of beach visits seems to have been hijacked by such negativity. Tickets are sold to attend public beaches and families are no where to be seen. This growing negativity, segregation, sexual interest and control is creating a naturism that seem uninviting to Owen today. Anna and Steve like potentially millions of others would surely be put off trying naturism for the first time in 2026.
Profit over positivity.
A worrying aspect of naturism during Owen's lifetime is the value placed on putting money first. Influencers and celebrities have proven time and time again that they will behave in a way that attracts the most attention to them. When the mood takes them they will behave inappropriately to get likes for their posts. Their own sense of importance allows them to not consider the messages they send out. One celebrity couple wrote recently in a magazine about how they occasionally have sex on beaches and dunes. Another social media presence attacked a club for banning them after being caught in a publicly visible sexual act - suggesting to followers that they were somehow the wronged party! Such is the unshakable belief that a celebrity status means you are infallible. They will openly reject the value of clubs and organised naturism despite their long history of bringing the naturist community together. Yet these same opportunities will offer free advertising, free stays and free events - even putting them up as special guests. The percieved fame to help them sell tickets or venues is more important than the behaviour these people present towards the growth of naturism or the opportunities themselves. And you never seem to come across naturist influencers who represent young families or even show interest in the idea of families being part of naturism. Their need to be popular automatically finds them rejecting traditional naturism in favour of trendy naturism.
Joining an international naturist forum some years ago Owen was dissapointed that many of the conversations where hi-jacked by people wanting to use the debate to sell themsleves or a product. At times this self-serving approach became embarrassing and it ruined many of the topics being properly discussed. Yet this is how modern naturism almost wants to be percieved - not a innocent, positive and healthy life choice aimed at everyone but a high profit "boutique life style" aimed at specific demographics. It leaves Owen with a bitter taste in the mouth. Something as clean and innocent as naturism is being sullied. Yet this is a huge mistake. Naturism needs to be seen as decent and pure to be trusted. It already has an uphill struggle to change societies perception of nudity. It needs to keep on track to be effective at doing this.
Organised naturism as mentioned above discourages free naturism - despite that presenting the best way to promote naturism to the public - how many naturists become naturists through stumbling across other naturists on a beach? Events and venues are attempted to cash in on the spending power linked to youth, partying and sexual orientation, and many couples with families don't just feel unwanted but also feel that they simply cannot afford the high ticket prices linked to these events. When researching campsites in France we paid over twice the price to stay at a naturist campsite when compared to non-naturist campsites that offered newer, more and better facilities and would have been easier to reach and with closer links to other local experiences.
Profit is important, it is what allows opportunities to exist, but it should not exist at the expense of naturism. Some celebrities even place nudes behind a paywall making naturism feel more like a strip club. We should not allow naturism to be blurred in articles to sell more magazines. Advertising revenue on websites and magazines should not be more important than ensuring the right products are advertised. We have even seen national bodies advertise websites with financial links to swinging! We have rejected countless enquiries to ANW to advertise products that cross into sexual territory. Sadly profit has taken naturism off the magazine shelf in shops. It may be much more cost effective to go download only, but it also reflects another step away from naturism being in the public eye.
And where in all this are the families? No longer seen as easy to promote and profitable families have simply disappeared. The truest way to show that naturism is a wonderful and positive experience is being totally ignored for higher short term profit and simple sales. Even the word naturism is being quietly rejected in an attempt to sell nudity to party people who only embrace specific labels rather than naturism to everyone.
Yet ironically Owen has been attacked for "profiteering" from naturism. Despite ANW costing thousands of pounds each year to maintain and full time work for Anna and Steve since 2018 it is imagined by some that somehow it should be free. Yet Owen's integrity towards naturism would never allow money from advertising and subscriptions or a growth in membership and popularity to be more important than being true to naturism, the community and the ANW vision. We have no want to sell naturism short to be welcomed into an inner circle. Naturism comes first everytime and that includes not ignoring the importance of families for the future. Owen is not interested in short term gain, safe trends or winning a popularity contest. Owen is always driven by genuine, real naturism: Despite feeling that many naturist opportunities now seem happy to allow these negative changes to distort naturism forever.
The truth is naturism has not changed.
It may be harder for the average person to find naturism, there may be a growth in naturist venues and events blurring the lines, there may be a growth of adult only and other negative segregation, and some people organising and promoting naturism may have lost their way in an attempt to gain greater appreciation and profit. It maybe that the vast majority of families and many other people may look at naturism and assume it is no longer fit for them. However this is a failing in how naturism is being presented and not in naturism itself which is just as positive and real as ever.
Naturism is part of our nature and no matter how hard some people have tried to reinvent it it is not so easy to change human evolution. At the moment naturism exists in the hearts of millions of genuine naturists. It lies deep in the core of the ANW community. All Owen needs to do is stay true to the naturism that created Owen 18 years ago. All Anna and Steve need to do is continue on their 18 year journey with the same reasons they started back in 2008. All of of us need to do is stay true to ourselves, ANW and naturism. Just as Anna and Steve have always encouraged when it comes to behaviour and rules on ANW. From the individual, to the community, to the life choice itself: Protect Yourself, Protect ANW and Protect Naturism.
We may be adults but that does not mean we have to lose our innocence.
Owen recognises that part of that protection is about recognising the core values of naturism. The reason naturism became so popular and beloved in the first place. Ideas that served naturism well for many decade before Owen existed.
The joy of naturism is not about flirting in the nude. It isn't about hiding your naked body from people of the opposite sex or children. It is about recognising that the ideas we carry in life about nudity, the human body and society have become tainted over the centuries. That our sexuality and our age is immaterial in naturism. That threat and danger are not created through nudity alone. Genuine, united naturism is wonderfully reassuring because it teaches us to trust everyone. Yes some people will let us down on occasion, but that is an individual fault and more often than not a fault that has been developed through a culture of nudity being taboo and and segregation being expected. The whole point of naturism is about turning our fears on their heads and recognising that life and behaviour can be different. It is the act of being naturism in a genuine mix of people that gives us the real lesson and delivers naturism at it purest and at its best. The very essence of naturism is based on mutual trust across genders, sexualities, ages, races, religions and cultures. To fear this is to fear naturism. To ignore this is to ignore naturism. To reject it is to reject naturism.
We must never lose sight of this. During the last 18 years it does feel that the world of naturism and the world beyond naturism is losing sight of this. Owen knows that many other couples like Anna and Steve will be looking at naturism today and will never be creating their Own Naturism: their own Owen. Simply because it is becoming increasingly hard to see what naturism is from the outside, to get genuine examples of naturism on the internet and social media and to fathom the naturism that organised naturism is promoting. It feels that many couples and therefore many families will reject naturism before they ever get started.
Owen feels very lucky to have been born in 2008 rather than in 2026 but also believes all is not lost. As long as places like ANW continue to promote genuine naturism and unite real naturists and work together to bring naturism to the world we can keep naturism alive.
It is much tougher than it was 18 years ago. Society and the internet have made it a much harder task and it can feel that many within naturism itself have sold out for an easier and/or more short term appreciation and profit but we are here, we all have Owens that need us and we can make a difference.
We – the ANW community- won't give up. By working together we can maybe encourage other aspects of naturism to not give up. We have to give it a try because if naturists won't fight for naturism in 2026 and beyond who will?
Thanks for reading - Anna, Steve and family - and Owen!
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