An Ontario family court judge has issued a temporary order prohibiting an 11-year-old girl from attending nudist camps, citing concerns about her mental health, safety, and the child's own thoughts on getting naked in nature.
The girl's father applied to the Superior Court of Justice for the order after learning his daughter had gone "naked camping" with her mother and maternal grandparents. Her parents never married, and they have repeatedly been involved in litigation concerning their daughter.
Judge's Decision
Justice Ian F. Leach wrote in a recent decision: "I find that the situation calls for an interim order whereby, pending any further order of the court, neither parent, nor any other adult entrusted with care of the child, shall take the child to nudist/naturist camps, resorts or other recreational nudist/naturist events or activities."
The court heard that the girl's father learned in October 2024 about his daughter going to a nudist camp with her mother and grandparents. The girl was "upset with her mother" at the time over being scolded about telling someone the truth about an item of clothing they were wearing, said the April 27 decision.
"The child was said to have found the experience of being chastised for telling the truth to be 'confusing and overwhelming.' The child then mentioned the existence of 'another secret (she was) really not supposed to tell, not even (to her) friends,' before then sharing that she had been going 'naked camping' with her 'mom, nana and papa'; i.e., with her mother and maternal grandparents. The child also was said to have further indicated to (her) father that she did not want to go 'naked camping' anymore."
Parental Disagreements
When the father followed up with his daughter's mom and grandparents, they assured him "that the atmosphere at the naked camping locations was very safe, (e.g., with the child being supervised at all times), and that the child would not be made to go naked camping again if she did not want to go."
The girl has indicated she no longer wants to attend nudist resorts. But her mother said her daughter has changed her mind and now wants to go "naked camping" again.
Court's Caution
"My temporary order in that regard is based in large measure on what I regard as the court's current inability to discern with clarity whether or not the child genuinely may have changed her mind about further participation in such activity and the extent to which such further participation would have a positive or detrimental impact on this particular child," Leach said.
"I find it advisable to err on the side of caution in relation to such matters, and restrict the child's attendance and/or participation in that regard, unless and until the court is provided with more objective and detailed information."
The mother suggested that safety concerns about the "creepy man" her daughter encountered at a nude resort were "blown out of proportion." However, the judge emphasized the need for caution given the conflicting accounts and the child's well-being.
