About the CIG Joining the Grotto Grotto Activities CIG Newsletter Calendar of Events Indiana Cave Capers Officers & Staff Constitution & Bylaws Indiana Cave Laws Caving Links

Meetings  Regular Grotto Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at the World War Memorial Building in downtown Indianapolis. Meetings start at 7:30 P.M. and usually end around 9:30 in the evening.  The business of running the CIG is handled at Executive Board Meetings which allows more time at Regular Meetings for announcements of upcoming activities, reports of recent caving trips by members, and programs. All grotto members are welcome to attend E-Board Meetings. Meeting dates and locations are announced in the CIG Newsletter.  Meeting Photos        Caving Trips  Grotto caving trips are held on the Sunday following the Regular Grotto Meeting. Occasionally the trip is on Saturday if that day is more convenient for the trip leader or cave owner. The group usually meets at a central location is Southern Indiana which is announced in the newsletter and at meetings. Two or three times a year the trip is to an out-of-state destination, usually to Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, or Alabama. These trips involve camping for the weekend in the vicinity of the cave to be visited. Download the 2004 CIG Cave Trip Schedule in .PDF format.  Cave trip photos & members photos             More Caving Photos  The CIG Library  The Grotto maintains a library of books and newsletters pertaining to caves and karst. It is the most extensive library of its kind in the state and one of the finest of any NSS grotto. The library is permanently located in a member's home and is open for general use on the Tuesday following each Regular Meeting. Members may make appointments to use the library at other times convenient to the host.  Library Photos  Training  Vertical caving is an activity which requires specialized equipment and training. Vertically qualified grotto members organize vertical caving seminars for cavers wishing to learn these skills.  The CIG also supports the programs of the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) and many members have participated in NCRC sessions.  Training Photos  Cave Capers  Cave Capers is an annual three-day caving event sponsored by the CIG. It includes caving, camping, a banquet, a guest speaker, and door prizes. The date and location of each Capers is announced to the caving community early in the year. For more Capers information, visit the Cave Capers page.  Capers Photos        Parties and Other Events  In October, a grotto family hosts a Halloween Party in their home. There are pitch-in munchies and the grotto provides soft drinks. Costumes are strongly encouraged but not required.  2002 Halloween Party Photos        In December a grotto family hosts a Christmas Party in their home. Once again there are pitch-in munchies and the grotto provides soft drinks and pizza. There is a gift exchange of caving-related gifts, serious or humerous. Bring one to get one.  From time-to-time, other events are scheduled. These events could include a picnic / cookout, a swim party, technical workshops, caving trips, a field work day, sometimes to benefit another caving-related organizations project, or a garage sale. These events are announced at meetings, in the CIG Newsletter, or on this website.  Other Event Photos          The NSS Convention  The CIG is always well represented at the annual week-long National Speleological Society Convention. The 2002 NSS Convention was held in Porterville, California. The 2003 Convention was held in Camden, Maine. 2004 will bring the annual NSS Convention to Da UP, Michigan. Many CIG members attend and CIGers take home many ribbons and service awards.  NSS Convention Photos        As an Internal Organization of the NSS, the CIG also expresses its' voice in the business of the Society through representation at the annual Congress of Grottos meeting and by occasionally hosting rhe NSS Board of Governors meeting.