Reveling in a revealing resort.

Byline: Andrea Damewood The Register-Guard

MARCOLA - Though most are nearing their golden years, age has not kept them from donning their birthday suits, even if they are a bit wrinkled.

And through next Sunday, up to 1,000 members of the American Association for Nude Recreation - average age range: 40 to 60 years old - will converge upon the Willamettans clothing-optional resort for the organization's 76th annual conference, then check in and strip down.

Hot air balloon rides in the buff. Au naturel archery. Naked shuffleboard. Skinny dipping in the pool while sipping "Skinny Dip" microbrew ale. Nude karaoke contests.

But while most members can recall clearly the day John F. Kennedy was shot, today's nudists aren't worried about attracting those who think '60s psychedelic band Strawberry Alarm Clock is a kind of candy.

"Our demographics do show us that most members are (older)," said Pat Brown, a former board member of the Willamettans. "But that is not a recent occurrence. As far back as the 1970s ... that has been the case."

It's not that the MTV generation isn't into getting naked.

Rather, twenty-somethings, busy with family and work, just don't have the time to slow down and take it all off, she said.

John Kinman, president of both the association and the Willamettans, agreed.

He was raised a nudist, but did not become active in the national organization until he had more time on his hands.

"For 10 to 15 years I was working hard on my career, trying to keep the lawn mowed and going to basketball games," he said. "We seem to hover in mid-age; our membership is self-renewing."

The association has nearly 500 members.

College students, notorious for all things unclad - mooning, streaking, hosting "naked parties" - can't afford the price of being official members of a nudist resort, and also tend to not join any organization, association spokesman Steve Vickers said.

The Willamettans, with the University of Oregon and Oregon State nearby, slash their $200 annual dues in half for college kids.

At 26, Vickers, of Kissimmee, Fla., is a third-generation nudist. Vickers works to organize college nude events and manages the association's MySpace page.

Nudism shares the same appeal for young and old, he said.

"People are trying to look for someplace where they can be themselves," said Vickers, who remained in a T-shirt and shorts Saturday as he adjusted to Oregon's cooler climate. "You understand nobody's perfect."

Taking away the "sexiness" of being stripped allows members to be a bit cheeky about it.

A centrally located hill, prime real estate in the 40-acre resort, where the prime mode of transportation is by golf cart, is on "Bare Mountain." Visitors stop at the Bun Marche gift shop. Drinks are served at the T-Avern. Those who aren't members of the "Willies" are called "textiles."

But with freedom of being fully exposed comes ... exposure.

"You can get a bee sting in a place you wouldn't when you're not nude," said Willamettan membership chairman Bill Balfour, 47. "You can get a sunburn if you're not careful."

Towels are the only required accessory in camp - not only to protect soft tushies from sun-baked seats, but to allow for hygiene, Balfour said.

A few other activities do call for some cover.

Members are encouraged to carry a cover-up when they hike, in case they stray into adjacent timberland and have a potentially awkward encounter with a logger or two.

"You can't bowl totally nude, you have to wear shoes," said Chicago area resident George Morrison, 75, who drove his RV about 2,000 miles to make the first day of the convention on Saturday.

The Vietnam vet continued, "if you're looking at a nudist military, the uniform part does get in the way."

THE WILLAMETTANS

Interested in checking out life in the buff? Here's how:

Open House: Aug. 25 at the resort, on Willies Lane, located 2.2 miles up Parsons Creek Road, northwest of Marcola

Call: [phone]

On the Web: www.willamettans.com, www.aanr.com, www.myspace.com/aanr