The Blue Ridge Grotto has many ways of educating "novices". We give the following only to people who call or come to a meeting out of curiosity or genuine interest. BRG Membership Chair Mary Sue Socky has developed or modified the materials listed below into a Grotto Info Packet that is given to every interested person who attends a BRG meeting.

BRG Information Packet – includes: (copies available upon request)

• Personal Rescue Information (if they are going on a trip)
• Welcome to the Blue Ridge Grotto page
• "Why You Should Join an Organized Caving Organization" (Dave McClurg, Adventure of Caving and also in Caving Basics)
• Caving Trip Checklist and Caving Rules
• What Cavers always forget to tell you
• VA/MD/WV State Cave Law
• The Vandalism Chain (NSS News 3/87)
• The NSS Reward Poster
• Cave Facts
• Resource List: Books and Publications to read on Caves and Bats

Every Grotto meeting includes a Program and introductions of everyone (new cavers and old grotto members). The Programs are often educational and always entertaining.

We require any novice to be "sponsored" by a BRG member when they go on a trip.