NSS Convention
Pre-Camp 2007

Orange County, Indiana
July 18-21, 2007

Hosted by the St. Joseph Valley Grotto
of the
National Speleological Society

     The St. Joseph Valley Grotto will be hosting a Pre-Convention Camp at grotto member Randall Bruner’s property, located southwest of Orleans, in Orange County, Indiana. All NSS members are invited to attend. Over 240 caves are located in Orange County, ranging from small, muddy crawlways to large walking borehole. There will be several guided trips through caves in the area, highlighting the best of what the area has to offer. Primitive camping will be available. However, facilities will include running water, toilets, and a shower for use by Pre-Convention participants.

     The Lost River Cave System, currently the third longest cave in Indiana at 20.55 miles, is located in Orange County. Lost River Cave was discovered in 1998 by members of the SJVG and has been an ongoing grotto survey project since that time. The cave contains several segments of the underground portion of Indiana’s Lost River as it flows through Orange County. The cave is considered unique hydrologically, and the karst terrain above has been studied since the 1930’s. Over 200 leads remain to be surveyed, and much is still not known about this large cave system. From tiny crawlways to large walking borehole, small streams to large underground rivers, toothpaste mud to pristine formation rooms, Lost River Cave has it all and is a true “caver’s cave”, with something to offer everyone. Guided trips through the Lost River Cave System will be available during the Pre-Convention Camp.

     On Saturday evening there will be a banquet held to mark the end of Pre-Convention activities. This will also be a celebration of the SJVG’s Ten-year anniversary. All NSS members are invited to attend. Tickets will be available separately.