Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the buttons below to find answers to frequently asked questions about nudism/naturism and the Canyon State Naturists.
Click on the buttons below to find answers to frequently asked questions about nudism/naturism and the Canyon State Naturists.
Canyon State Naturists, Inc. (CSN) is a clothing-optional travel/camping organization which was formed in 1989 and now has about 200 individual members; families with children, couples and singles throughout Arizona and the United States. We are affiliated with the American Association for Nude Recreation and the American Association for Nude Recreation-Western Region. We believe in caring for the natural resources that nature affords, and are proud of our excellent reputation built through the years with the U. S. Forest Service and strongly support the "Leave No Trace" program.
Members of CSN are of all ages and backgrounds, welcome without any discrimination. It is important to note that you are not required to be nude at our events. When you're ready to enjoy the freedom of social nudity, you will feel safe among the friendliest people you will ever meet. Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature, characterized in part by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment.
This depends on the month of year. While naturists enjoy a clothing free environment, they are not oblivious to the temperature. During spring, summer and early fall our activities tend to focus on being outdoors. Pool parties, day hikes and even camping. We also have at least two annual trips to Shangri La for theme dinners or cookouts, such as Cajun Nigh and the All American meat grilling. During the cooler months of the year, we have events such as holiday parties, a Super Bowl Part, Mardi Gras and, of course, St. Patrick’s Day and Mardi Gras. We are now experimenting with movie and game nights, as well as textile trips out for dinner and theater
A small donation is requested for each function to help meet the general expenses of the outing and to cover the cost of a growing organization.
We visit wild areas, beaches, rivers, deserts, lakes, mountains, and hot springs. A highlight of all our overnight camping trips is a potluck dinner so plan to bring a dish to share with others if you can. At some of our events, we organize games or other theme activities. Sometimes, we just sit around the campfire and sing, talk or roast marshmallows. Basically, we just relax and have a good time among good friends. Some things you need to know:
Home and day events can include pool, pot luck, game nights, movie nights and/or barbecue parties at members' homes.
Many of our members have gathered based on their interest in activities such as hiking, photography (special event), theater and movie attendance, dining, volleyball, Frisbee, backpacking, marksmanship, biking, 4-wheel drive, boating, and much more. Special interest activities are coordinated separately and those interested are encouraged to get together and develop plans in which most members can participate. These events may be textile or clothing optional. In accord with our By Laws, and our Policy an Procedure Manual such events may be posted as CSN Events or they may be posted as “events of interest.” Please see our Governing Documents page for details.
Canyon State Naturists, Inc. is organized in Arizona as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization and can accept tax deductible donations. A main objective is to increase public awareness of Naturism and Body Acceptance through seminars, special events, informational booths, print and broadcast media, mailings, and more.
No individual should be forced to doing something with which they are uncomfortable. The question to some extent is, ”How do you know that you will be uncomfortable with social nudity or the naturist community unless you inform yourself about it?”
Our goal is to get the message of natural freedom out to those that have been trying to find ways of enjoying social nudity. Nude Recreation is a way of enjoying the natural beauty of the Southwest without the restriction of clothes. Most people who like to be nude in the open air are much more comfortable and feel safer with a like-minded group.
In 2015, The Naturist Education Foundation (NEF), a nonprofit informational and educational adjunct to The Naturist Society, commissioned multiple opinion surveys to test the responses of U.S. adults to questions about body acceptance, recreation, and personal freedoms. Surveys were taken to gauge National opinions on these matters as well as the opinions of California, New York, and Florida residents. The results of each survey show overwhelming public support for these activities. The results of the surveys are posted on the Naturist Education Foundation website.
"Nudity is a taboo in America because we primarily equate nudity or nakedness with sexuality and we have taboos about sexuality," said Matthew Westra, a psychology professor at Longview Community College in Missouri, in the National Geographic Channel documentary Taboo: Extreme Living. "A lot of it has to do, I think, with the Puritan and Victorian heritage that we have, which says that any kind of temptation will lead you into hell."
But naturists argue that, as a part of the taxpaying community, some public space should be set aside for them. A recent national Roper poll, one of the two largest independent polling companies in the U.S., said 80 percent of the U.S. public agrees that it is okay to have a nude beach, as long as it is marked by a sign. 25 percent of adults polled said they'd gone skinny-dipping in mixed company at least once in their life.
"Naturists do not divide neatly down political boundaries," said Bob Morton, the executive director of the Naturist Action Committee (NAC), based in Austin, Texas. "No true conservative would suggest compromising civil liberties, so it's not a conservative-versus-liberal issue. Naturists span the entire political spectrum."
More Reading
https://naturisteducation.org/wp-content/uploads/library/newsletters/2023_12.pdf
https://www.aanr.com/aanr_articles/the-changing-complexion-of-nudism-in-north-america/
The law in the United States runs the gamut of accepting top free in public places to full nudity and then to being as restrictive as the law in the State of Arkansas, where nudism is illegal beyond the immediate family unit, even on private property. It is also a crime to "promote" or "advocate" nudism.
The laws are in constant flux. CSN strongly recommends that you constantly revisit state and Federal Statutes.
The current law in Arizona is a follows:
“Arizona law on indecent exposure, ARS 13-1402(A), states that a person commits indecent exposure if that person exposes genitals, anus, or the areola or nipple of a woman's breast and another person is present, and the defendant is reckless about whether the other person, as a reasonable person, would be offended or alarmed by the act.”
Generally speaking as long as we are willing to cover up at the request of civil authorities, and avoid confrontations with civil authorities and the public, we normally face little likelihood of legal difficulties.
We prefer using Federal lands where Federal civil authorities are more tolerant of nudity; however, we recognize that state and local civil authorities can enforce local laws on Federal lands. So many of our outings are in areas maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. CSN works with Federal and other authorities who are usually happy to deal with us since we are caring users of public lands. We obtain proper permits and take pride in keeping our campsites better than we found them.
Read through the information provided here on our website, especially our Join Us page. If you have any questions, please contact us by using the form on our Request Information page.
Just like any other community of people, the Naturist community has its own set of behavioral guidelines and etiquette. Most of these are common sense and all are intended to provide a fun and quality environment for our events.
The Naturist community in general and CSN specifically is a family friendly organization and actions contrary to common sense family standards will not be condoned. Those curious about nudist gatherings might wonder how social interactions differ when one or both parties are unencumbered by clothing.
Some things to consider when joining one of our events: