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A New Passage Based on Tradition We are entering a new phase for the NSS-the IMAX® movie, Journey into Amazing Caves, premieres during this month. Across the nation, the caving community is tasked with a singular mission-educate the public about the benefits of cave and karst protection. Explain and demonstrate how groundwater supplies are related to karst and how karst protection improves the water quality of many communities and regions. How can the caving community help deflect a potential spelunking frenzy? Cavers will be called upon to present information about caves. Should we simply avoid the fun aspects of caving? Avoid telling about the adventure, the extremes of thrill-seeking challenges, the descriptions of no-fear exploration? Let's think, plan together, and avoid stepping into an era of untutored fad caving with spiraling ramifications that result in damage to underground resources. If people exit the IMAX® theaters with newfound enthusiasm for caving adventures, then grottos should make themselves available, at least to the persistent ones who seek the attention of NSS organizations. Notice we suggest that grottos make themselves available-we are not suggesting that we make the caves available-we should at least thoroughly submerse the resolute newcomers in minimum-impact caving ethics, safety standards, and conservation strategies. If experienced cavers will once again put aside cave-companion preferences for a few trips and will volunteer to take a few new sparkly-eyed enthusiasts under wing, teach the basics of safe, sane, and minimum-impact caving, then new spelunkers may become good cavers. If you object to encouraging newbies, at least share enough conservation information to keep the caves safe. (Of course, we can always drag 'em through the muddiest crawlway we can find, talk their ears off about cave conservation, and then see if they come back for more.) If we become overwhelmed with numbers of would-be cavers, let's remember how the percentages have always worked. A major portion of those newbies will never show up again-they've been there and done it. An unfortunate percentage will try it on their own and we won't see 'em until the subsequent rescue or some other kind of trouble. Another percentage will continue to cave as a part-time past time-they will learn about caves and provide needed labor for projects-we are responsible for helping them learn to advocate cave protection. A small, but growing percentage will turn their scientific minds to new investigations in speleology and will make valid contributions in research. The last tiny percentage will become obsessed life-style cavers who will eventually make vital contributions to the conservation, exploration, study, and protection of caves and karst. Let's honor our own caving mentors by putting effort toward teaching the few persistently curious ones the best of what we know. Take it slow and make sure they really understand that protecting the caves comes first. Together, let's honor our under-earth resources by teaching the masses how protection of caves and karst systems can enhance the quality of day-to-day living-saving caves by saving karst. Reprinted from March 2001 NSS News |
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