American Association for Nude Recreation Cancels Summer Youth Camp.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The American Association for Nude Recreation's Eastern Region announced today that it is canceling the youth leadership summer camp that was scheduled to take place next week at White Tail Park in Ivor, Virginia.

According to AANR East President and White Tail Park owner Robert Roche, a federal court's ruling yesterday would place an undue burden on too many parents who had planned to send their children for a week of wholesome, well supervised instruction and activities. On July 1, a new Virginia law became effective that prohibits parents from sending their children to any summer camp where their child will be "openly nude" unless a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian is also in attendance, regardless of the level or quality of adult supervision at the camp.

"This issue is about much more than a 'summer camp.' The problem with a recently-passed Virginia law and the court's decision requiring that parents and grandparents attend is that it interferes with fundamental parenting rights. Parents must have the right to direct the upbringing of their children and to choose custodial caregivers for those children without undue interference from the state," said Roche. "The state of Virginia has chosen to interfere with parenting decisions and rights of otherwise fit parents. This is the first step on a slippery slope.

"In the case of AANR youth leadership camps, our caregivers include many of the parents themselves, in addition to screened volunteers. Most of these come from professions ranging from law enforcement to paramedics, nurses, and educators making them especially well suited to add to the safety and security of this experience. We have a staff to camper ratio of nearly two staff to supervise each of the campers, including many families who elect to come together," said Roche.

Parents are welcome to accompany these children to the summer camp. But just as parents are not required to attend scout, YMCA, sports or religious camps with their child, the government should not have the power to compel parental attendance if it interferes with a parent's decision to choose when and with whom they will educate their children.

All parents care very deeply about the upbringing of their children and many are on the youth camp staff. In fact, for fourteen years, youth leadership camps have a totally unblemished record, thanks to the qualified people who give their time, as well as solid rules, security, and standards of conduct.

This year the camp scheduled at Ivor will not be able to take place given the number of campers whose parents cannot attend due to such factors as work commitments, military service, and health reasons.

Contact for all media inquires is Rebecca Glenburg, ACLU of Virginia, 6 N 6th Street, Richmond, VA 23219, phone [phone].