Blue Grass Grotto

04/22/2026

KOR PRE-REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

At long last Pre-registration is here! Get first dibs on an electric site and don’t miss out on the banquet: tavern style bangers and mash with green beans, carrots, and rolls with a charcuterie board for your typical medieval experience.

Our t-shirt this year is a tribute to Bill Addington, our fellow caver who passed last fall. We have been hard at work and this Karst-o-rama is shaping up to be one to remember. Register today!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/karst-o-rama-2026-pre-registration

04/22/2026

From the KOR Committee:

It's your time to shine!

June 12-14th

Passionate about a cave that's within an hour's drive of GSP?

Be a leader for one or all three days and/or a double header on the same day

Check out the sign-up form to get your cave trip(s) on the list!

https://forms.gle/Yx2Vkj7ra6U1ng1g9

Yours in mud,

Darryl

03/06/2026

From our very own GSP Liason:

Hey y'all,

It’s that time of year again; GSP OPEN HOUSE!!!
The link to the volunteer sign up form is below. Please sign up to volunteer & pick your shifts now!!

Heres the link!!~~ (https://tinyurl.com/OpenHouseVolForm) ~~

Make a Difference at GSP Open House!
GSP Open House is the preserve's largest and most public-facing event! GSP Open House success happens because we have wonderful volunteers. {Thank you!} There are various volunteer opportunities before and during Open House.

Preserve Prep is May 2-3
GSP Open House is May 16-17

Please fill in this form.
here it is again!! ~~ (https://tinyurl.com/OpenHouseVolForm) ~~ to let us know your availability to volunteer.

TOGETHER WE CAN Y'ALL!!!
✌️ ❤️ 🌳

GSP Open House is the preserve's largest and most public-facing event! GSP Open House success happens because we have wonderful volunteers. {Thank you!} There are various volunteer opportunities before and during Open House. Preserve Prep is May 2-3 GSP Open House is May 16-17 Please fill in this fo...

02/20/2026

CALL FOR PRESENTERS! 📢

Interested in sharing your work with one of the largest gatherings of cavers and speleologists? Submit a presentation proposal for the 2026 NSS Convention in Corydon, Indiana this summer!

Choose a session that fits your topic, then email the session chair with your presentation title and an abstract (250 words or fewer) by April 1.

Session topics and chair contact information are listed below. We can’t wait to see what you’re working on.

Archaeology and Paleontology
Joe Douglas
[email protected]

Biospeleology Session & Lunch
Sarah Keenan
[email protected]

Cave Digging
Benjamin Brown
[email protected]

Cave Diving
Jason Richards
[email protected]

Cave Exploration of the Ohio Valley Region: Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky
Aaron Bird
[email protected]

Cave Photography
Eugene Vale & Ed Schultz
[email protected]

Communications & Electronics
John DeR
[email protected]

Culture of Caves, Cavers and Caving
Cat Bishop
[email protected]

Geology & Geography
Katie Schmid
[email protected]

International Exploration
Philip Rykwalder
[email protected]

Spelean History
Bob Hoke & Dean Snyder
[email protected] [email protected]

Survey and Cartography
Carol Vesely
[email protected]

US Exploration
Pat Kambesis
[email protected]

Vertical Section
Carl Heitmeyer
[email protected]

02/12/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/185dYP4zZE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

CALL FOR PRESENTERS! 📢

Interested in sharing your work with one of the largest gatherings of cavers and speleologists? Submit a presentation proposal for the 2026 NSS Convention in Corydon, Indiana this summer!

Choose a session that fits your topic, then email the session chair with your presentation title and an abstract (250 words or fewer) by April 1.

Session topics and chair contact information are listed below. We can’t wait to see what you’re working on.

Archaeology and Paleontology
Joe Douglas
[email protected]

Biospeleology Session & Lunch
Sarah Keenan
[email protected]

Cave Digging
Benjamin Brown
[email protected]

Cave Diving
Jason Richards
[email protected]

Cave Exploration of the Ohio Valley Region: Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky
Aaron Bird
[email protected]

Cave Photography
Eugene Vale & Ed Schultz
[email protected]

Communications & Electronics
John DeR
[email protected]

Culture of Caves, Cavers and Caving
Cat Bishop
[email protected]

Geology & Geography
Katie Schmid
[email protected]

International Exploration
Philip Rykwalder
[email protected]

Spelean History
Bob Hoke & Dean Snyder
[email protected] [email protected]

Survey and Cartography
Carol Vesely
[email protected]

US Exploration
Pat Kambesis
[email protected]

Vertical Section
Carl Heitmeyer
[email protected]

11/27/2025

WHO WANTS A 2026 SEXY CAVERS CALENDAR?!! 🔥

From Joe Gordon ... Non-Grotto Grott Calendar Presale!!! ORDER BY Nov. 30th ! If you want a NGG Sexy Cavers 2026 Calendar! Calendars are $30. That includes shipping. ALL proceeds go to SCCI! If you want one, hit my venmo with the money and your address in the comment. Message me for other payment options.
Presale calendars will be ordered 11/30. You have until then (This Sunday at 4pm to order) I will order extras, so after Sunday 11/30 at 4pm CST, prices will go up to $40 until we are out.

Cost will depend on how many we order and shipping. Approx. $8-10 ( print, ship, taxes to me )shipping to you: 5-$10 So $10-$15ish will go to the charity. Will post a breakdown once ordered)!

Venmo:
Last 4 of cell for verification: 0607

And in case you're wondering here are your 13 month calendar models!
January - Anna Blanton
February - Charlie Blanton
March - Terri and Mike Wolf
April - Kimberly Smith Lughart
May - Caitlin Greene
June - CJ & Lupita Hmurovic
July - Brittney Dodson
August - Mike Goltzene
September - James Lavigne & Amber Jackson
October - James Hoffman
November - Clint Bowe
December - Tim Prince & Cristie Tagalong
January 2027 - Jim Minie

10/17/2025

At last nights meeting I mentioned the NSS YouTube Channel. Here is a link to the introductory episode of the NSS, 40 minutes and packed full of information.

NSS Webinar Series - January 2025. Introduction to the NSS Webinar Series. NSS Mission and Programs. Member Resources & Value. Organizational Chart and Execu...

06/30/2025

Registration opens today at noon:

https://ncrc.regfox.com/central-region-orientation-to-cave-rescue-great-saltpeter-cave-preserve-ky-august-2025 Central Region Orientation to Cave Rescue-Great Saltpeter Cave Preserve KY-August 2025

The Central Region of the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) will present an Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) training at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve on the weekend of August 23-24, 2025.
This is an awareness-level class for cave rescue. It will include both classroom instruction and field work. Coursework will include considerations for the underground environment, communication systems, operations, patient care, and extraction techniques.
This class is highly encouraged for cavers, emergency service personnel, and rescue management personnel.
Registration will open June 30th, 2025. Cost is $75.
Camping is available at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve at $10/night.

06/26/2025

Reminder! Registration for the upcoming Orientation to Cave Rescue course will open on Monday June 30th!

The Central Region of the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) will present an Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) training at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve on the weekend of August 23-24, 2025.
This is an awareness-level class for cave rescue. It will include both classroom instruction and field work. Coursework will include considerations for the underground environment, communication systems, operations, patient care, and extraction techniques.
This class is highly encouraged for cavers, emergency service personnel, and rescue management personnel.
Registration will open June 30th, 2025. Cost is $75.
Camping is available at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve at $10/night.
Registration will open at 12:00PM on Monday, June 30th, 2025: https://ncrc.regfox.com/central-region-orientation-to-cave-rescue-great-saltpeter-cave-preserve-ky-august-2025
You can enter your email to this link for a reminder!
More information may be found on the flyer here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z3qr7g3bO3yfRAmJ0GM_4pJFQMnSPSpU

06/01/2025

Howdy friends! KOR is just under a week from now, be sure to preregister by Tuesday (6/3) 10PM

Karst-O-Rama 2025 is now on for June 6-8, 2025, during the beautiful warm weather at the Great Saltpetre Preserve near Mt. Vernon, KY.This year for PRE-REGISTRATION we are using Zeffy, a 100% fee free platform for non-profits. The platform will ask for an optional donation during the final checkout,...

05/27/2025

If you’re a caver we highly recommend you consider taking a safety course so you know how to keep yourself and others safe should an incident occur. See the link below for an upcoming OCR happening right in our backyard! This class will cover the basics of cave rescue, useful items to keep in your pack, and much more!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AWtcyJSWM/?mibextid=wwXIfre

The Central Region of the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) will present an Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) training at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve on the weekend of August 23-24, 2025.
This is an awareness-level class for cave rescue. It will include both classroom instruction and field work. Coursework will include considerations for the underground environment, communication systems, operations, patient care, and extraction techniques.
This class is highly encouraged for cavers, emergency service personnel, and rescue management personnel.
Registration will open June 30th, 2025. Cost is $75.
Camping is available at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve at $10/night.

Registration will open at 12:00PM on Monday, June 30th, 2025: https://ncrc.regfox.com/central-region-orientation-to-cave-rescue-great-saltpeter-cave-preserve-ky-august-2025
You can enter your email to this link for a reminder!

More information may be found on the flyer here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z3qr7g3bO3yfRAmJ0GM_4pJFQMnSPSpU/view?usp=drive_link

05/08/2025

Notice! To make sure you’ll get a tshirt in your size, be sure to preregister for KOR by this Friday! (5/8) There will be extras ordered, but theres no guarantee that they will be in stock on site!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fdw1NVoMK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Karst-O-Rama 2025 is now on for June 6-8, 2025, during the beautiful warm weather at the Great Saltpetre Preserve near Mt. Vernon, KY.This year for PRE-REGISTRATION we are using Zeffy, a 100% fee free platform for non-profits. The platform will ask for an optional donation during the final checkout,...