1 Attachment(s)
Trip to Bat Cave in Newberry Florida NSS-CDS Dry Cave Workshop
Attachment 5642
I will be running a trip to Bat Cave in Newberry on Sunday, March 11th. We will meet at the police station by Sante Fe College at 10am. There we will all sign waivers and then head over to Bat Cave. The admission fee is $3 and this goes directly to Sante Fe College and helps make trips to the cave possible. This trip is open to anyone at any age. It is a great beginners dry cave. There are 15 spots on this trip so it may fill up fast. If you are interested please send me a message with your information to socials@nsscds.org.
The only requirements for the trip are:
For your and the site's protection, use common sense and follow the rules below: Wear long pants. Shorts are NOT OK. Make sure you are wearing clothing that you won't mind getting dirty. Wear closed shoes or sneakers. Sandals and open-toed shoes are not allowed (much less bare feet).
At all times, wear your headgear (helmet) in the cave. Sudden contact between your unprotected head and solid rock is rarely pleasant.
NO alcohol or drugs. Do not arrive impared or become impaired by alcohol or drugs. That includes medicines that make you drowsy or impair your alertness or judgment.
Have your own light or stay with someone who has a light.
Stay with the group. Should there be any problem, communicate with your partner as well as the tour guide.
Never be alone. Never take off on your own or even with a buddy to explore other sections of the cave or attempt to return to the surface
Do not run or horse around. Ceilings are low and floors are uneven. This is a good way to trip anf fall and injure yourself or others and abrupt contact with a low ceiling may well knock you out.
Stay on the boardwalk, except in the immediate vicinity of the building.There is little natural ground cover on the cave site because of past timbering operations. We are now trying to let the native vegetation re-establish itself.
In this area, the soils are loose, sandy and easily eroded. Normally, vegetation would have established itself on the rim of these openings, thereby stabilizing the edges of the sinks and minimizing erosion. We have placed collars around the surface openings to mitigate the impacts of human activity.
When we go into the cave, there will be access to only a limited part of the cave. This again will minimize our impact, and will allow the remainder of the system to function as naturally as possible.
Do not litter or vandalize...especially not in the cave. In this geologic setting, the thin veneer of very permeable sands allows any rainwater to infiltrate directly to the aquifer without the benefit of filtering by clays. Also, caves and sinkholes act as storm sewers, mainlining water, sediments and chemicals directly to the Floridan Aquifer which is the area's main source of drinking water. This makes it extremely vulnerable to pollution. To ensure that we do not pollute, all waste from our activities and facilities are retained in a tank, and will later be carried offsite for treatment. The same is true for the solid waste generated by the site. As you enjoy the experience, be especially aware of the little things...like don't spit out your gum in the cave....
Again, please remember that these rules are not arbitrary, but are designed to protect both you and the site.
Thank You for thinking about them.
Anyone under 19 years old must have the form signed by legal guardian or parent.
