I caught up with Gene Evangelist from Gay Naturists to check-in on how the plans are coming together for this year’s Naked Camp.
Taking place 16-25 August, Naked Camp is an annual Summer Camp gathering at Poconos, 90 minutes from New York City.
How are registrations progressing at this stage of planning for Naked Camp?
Last year we made some great changes. Many of our guys have leather, yoga, bear, and other interests, so we’ve been opening camp into a place to get your leather, yoga, bear, or other grooves on with similarly-minded friends. But at the same time, you can just hang out naked at the lake, or the two pools, or take a naked walk in the woods, and do your own naked thing. As a result, last year was charged with a new vibrant contagious energy and registrations for this August are coming in very, very fast. We will have around 700 guys – which is up about 50 percent.
Do you have a sense of how many guys will be repeat visitors and how many will be first time visitors to the Naked Camp?
Last year we had 170 new guys. A record. It was obvious that everyone was having a great time and guys who were there earlier in the week sent their friends pics from camp and said – “Get over here!” This triggered a number of last-minute registrations. This year, we’re expecting a lot of guys back, along with their friends.
Does everyone come for the entire week, or can you dip in and out?
All cabins, food, beverages, snacks, cocktails, theme parities and entertainment are included. So, staying is easy – you don’t have to plan on taking a lot, like you do at Burning Man, for comparison. At Naked Camp, there’s something entertaining going on every day – like the Mr. GNI Leather, Mr. Bare Bear, Ms, Lace, Mr GNI, Best Buns, or Best Penis Contests, plus the entertainers who perform during the event.
You can stay a weekend – for example, the two yoga retreats and Body Electric begin the first weekend. Or stay a weekend and half week, a week, or the entire time or some combination. The time commitment is easy, with many choices available. Whatever fits your schedule from August 16-25, you’ll find something entertaining going on.
Everyone is naked all of the time at Naked Camp?
For some guys, this is their first time being naked in a crowd – we enable them to warm up to the experience by wearing underwear or a jock or something to get acclimated when they first arrive. But, ultimately, it’s a nude rather than clothing-optional theme. As time goes on, even guys who were new to nudity end up happily naked.
If it gets chilly, a hoody, sweats, a union suit, or chaps, become acceptable attire.
What’s the accommodation arrangements?
Cabins are shared. If you register early enough, you can select a cabin based on age, or interests, such as the leather barracks, or yoga cabin. A number of Australians and Canadians have their own cabins, and it’s nice because they frequently throw these hot little cocktail parties.
Some guys bring a tent along – like I do – just in case I feel like a night of tenting privacy. Some guys come in RVs. There’s some flexibility as to accommodation.
If I was a total beginner when it comes to naked gay events, is this a good starting point, or is Naked Camp better suited to more experienced guys?
Naked Camp is an amazing, embracing experience. We have guys who have never been naked in a group before. Guys who are in relationships with women or partners who have not gotten into nudity. Some are stepping out into a predominately gay environment for the first time, or going with a partner into a naked environment as a way of expanding their relationship. We also have guys who are frequently naked and go to local nude parties or beaches. So, if you want to go and exercise or go and sexercise, you’ll fit in without pressure, but with lots of opportunity to do what you want – it’s suitable for every level.
What do you hope that guys feel when they come to this year’s Naked Camp?
We’re creating a community made up of a number of sub-communities – such as yoga, leather, bear, and others, which have a common interest in nudity. In addition to being naked, that other common element is that everyone is nice. There’s no attitude here – that’s different from a lot of other ‘vacation’ environments.
People come back many, many years in a row – not only to have a great time, but to connect with guys they didn’t get to spend as much time with as they wanted the previous year. It really is about meeting guys and developing relationships. There’s something and someone for everyone at Naked Camp.
I’m so glad I went for my first time, nine years ago. I haven’t missed a year since, and it’s getting to be more fun every year.
Sign up for Naked Camp – 16-25 August, Poconos (90 minutes from New York City)
