Welcome to the Louisville Grotto. The purpose of the Louisville Grotto is to promote interest in caves (speleology), cave conservation, and to provide fellowship among members. As such, the grotto is a venue to organize caving trips, cave projects, events, and discussions among members. The Lone Star Preserve property is owned by the Louisville Grotto and is open to members with some restrictions. The following guide should cover the basics, but please feel free to reach out to leadership with any further questions.
–Regular Meetings–
Meetings take place the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm. Typically they are held at the Bon Air Library in Louisville, but the location can change so please check the Facebook group or email for notifications. For online access, a Google Meet link will be posted on Facebook and via the agenda email from Member Planet. Please note that online meetings are not guaranteed. After the meetings we typically go to El Nopal for dinner.
–Member Communication–
- Memberplanet emails are used by leadership for important notifications and announcements.
- Facebook is utilized via the Louisville Grotto Member Only group, which is private and hidden.
If you aren’t in the private group, send an email to chairman@louisvillegrotto.org for an invite link. The purpose of the group is to talk about caves, cave gear, plan trips, discuss events, share pictures, share trip reports, or just talk caves in general. Please avoid politics or other hot topics. We like seeing the group active, so don’t be afraid to post.
–Resources–
A Google Drive folder provides access to Speleofest Guidebooks, Newsletters, maps, documents, and much more. Find something that interests you? Post it in the Facebook Group and ask about it.
–Caves and cave locations–
The grotto doesn’t keep an official cave location database, as such there is no policy on cave locations. Most of the caves we visit regularly are on private properties in which we rely on good landowner relations for access. Some nearby caves are owned by government or private conservancies, which allow access by permit. If you are interested in a particular cave, the best thing to do is inquire on the private Facebook group for more information.
–Caving–
- Grotto Trips are monthly planned trips geared toward beginners and new members. These trips are announced at meetings and anybody is welcome to attend.
- Private trips are usually planned around the campfire at LSP or after meetings at El Nopal. If you want to go caving, come hang out.
- Projects: some grotto members are active with surveying (mapping) new cave passages. These trips require hard work and dedication, but many cavers consider the thrill of exploration to be more exciting and rewarding. These trips are typically planned through private groups and messages. If you are interested in joining a project, just ask.
–National Speleological Society–
The Louisville Grotto is a chapter of the parent organization, the National Speleological Society. Regular members must maintain membership with the national organization in order to have voting rights and be able to hold office. The Louisville Grotto Bylaws can be found here: https://www.louisvillegrotto.
- Bat stickers: the yellow bat sticker you see on caver vehicles is the NSS logo. It is a way of identifying other cavers, which comes in handy often. They are available from caving vendors or the NSS store.
–Lone Star Preserve (LSP)–
The LSP property is available for grotto members and their guests. The property is utilized for events, classes, caving, scout groups, and as a general hangout for cavers. New members may request the gate code after a 6 month probationary period, or with sponsorship from two members during a regular grotto meeting. The property is typically occupied by grotto members on weekends, so it is common to find the gate unlocked by Friday evening. Members are allowed to be at LSP at anytime, even if they don’t have the gate code, they just have to park at the gate and walk in if no one else is there. We are very mindful of trespassers, so please put a bat sticker or a note on your vehicle if you walk in from the gate. Be advised that LSP is also available for lease, which could restrict member access during those times.
If you are interested in visiting LSP, please see the preserve guidelines on the website.
https://www.louisvillegrotto.
–Volunteering–
The Louisville Grotto runs on volunteers and we encourage everyone to participate. You don’t need to be an expert to get involved, you just need a willingness to help and learn. If you don’t feel confident or comfortable with a certain job, we’d be happy to pair you up with someone who can show you the ropes. Volunteer opportunities include: official grotto trips, group chaperone, LSP maintenance, Speleofest, board members, and committees.
–Reoccurring Louisville Grotto Events–
- Speleofest is our Memorial Day weekend fundraiser.
- LSP Work weekends keep LSP in working order.
- Chili cook-off is our Fall fundraiser at LSP, typically held the second Saturday of November.
- Fourth of July is a members-only event at LSP.
- Christmas Party is a dinner and gift exchange for members and family.
Thanks again for joining and supporting the Louisville Grotto. We are looking forward to seeing and hearing from you. Don’t forget to request access to the private Facebook Group if you have a Facebook account.