Northeast Naturist Festival, Friday,
August 6, EmpireHavenNudistPark

This past weekend was the perfect
demonstration of Naturist Rochester’s slogan: “Nude when possible,
clothed when practical.” Temperatures in the mid-60s forced most of the campers
at EmpireHavenNudistPark
in Moravia to cover up (at least
partially), leaving only the hardiest among them clothes-free. Many of the
Park’s more than 500 members turned out for the five-day Northeast Naturist
Festival.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  The
agenda included more than 150 activities, with titles from “Needs Based
Financial Planning” to “Where to Go Nude in the Northeast.” There were pick-up
volleyball games, a buffet-style picnic each night, and the opportunity (certainly
more inviting in sunnier weather) to skinny-dip in the Park’s pool.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  For
Rochesterians who have never attended a nudist
resort, there are a few things you should know: one, nudity is never mandatory
— undress to your own comfort level. Two, Empire Haven is a family park, and
all conduct must be appropriate. Three, campers must carry — and sit on —
towels at all times. Four, nudists are among the most universally accepting,
life-loving people you’ll ever meet.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Anne
Fischer, co-owner of a Florida
nudist park, speaks the following wisdom: “When you’re talking to people and
there are no clothes, there’s nothing to interpret who you are. When you’re
talking, it’s truly heart to heart.”

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Jim
Metz was shooting photos for N Magazine,
the quarterly publication of the national Naturist Society.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  How
long have you been a member of Empire Haven?

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  This
is my fourth year.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  What
drew you to the nudist experience?

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  It’s
such a freeing experience — so relaxing. There’s nothing to separate you from
nature.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Why
do you think people have reservations about attending nudist resorts?

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  I
think a lot of people are worried about how they look. But when you’re nude,
people tend to feel so much more comfortable with themselves,
so much less stressed.

This article appears in Aug 11-17, 2004.