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Showing posts from July, 2016

Caving With Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Council 11-18-18

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Yes, they were at it again. This time there were two new Troops to introduce to caving. Eastern PA Council set this one up at the same time as the one in October. This trip originally had sixteen people, but one Troop backed out at the last minute. It’s a shame because they missed a very good time with these girls. Maybe they’ll come out again when they can. We have been having a tremendous amount of rain and unprecedented snowfall for this time of year. As a result the cave actually had a good bit of water in it.

I like to use this cave for beginner trips because it is stable. But I’ve never seen this much water in this cave. Parts that usually have a little sticky mud had water over the top of my thigh. I choose to avoid the lower parts of the cave. For most of the girls this was their first wild caving trip. I didn’t want to take any chances with them and I didn’t want anyone cold and miserable. But they all got very muddy, and had a blast. How could I tell? Watch the video. L…
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Brandywine Red Clay Alliance Summer Camp Explores Wind Cave

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Brandywine Red Clay Alliance (BRCA) is a great organization. Their summer camp program is fantastic as well.

It started in 1945 as the Brandywine Valley Association, in West Chester, PA, and merged with Red Clay in 2005 to form the Brandywine Red Clay Association.

The Myrick Conservation Center is the headquarters of Brandywine Red Clay Alliance as well as a 318 acre outdoor education center. The summer camp program is held at the Center, but ventures out to explore other local natural interests.


Since 2007 I've been fortunate enough to be able to contribute to their program. This year was no exception. I guided a group of 12 campers, councilors, and staff to explore Wind Cave in Pequea, PA.
Wind Cave, or as it's sometimes called Cold Cave, is a large tectonic cave. Unlike the more well known solution caves, tectonic caves are formed by plate shifts. There are no formations in the cave, but there is plenty of climbing and crawling.

Unfortunately, it is a popular cave that gets…
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Newsletter for July 2016

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Blog Posts in June
Venturing Crew 94 Cave Exploring in Virginiaby Makinzie Ackroyd

Venturing Crew 94, from Kimberton, PA, is a small group but very active. From June 13th to the 16th, this small coeducational group went to Virginia for some adventure.


Top Post on Facebook Petzl Newsletter If you don't get the Petzl newsletter, I want to share something profound from the last one I received. It is concerning climbing, but transfers over to caving easily.


Signature Rock Discovery Tour Family fun destination Howe Caverns Adventure Park, has unveiled it's newest and "oldest" cave tour. the Signature Rock Discovery Tour. The 2.5 hour exploration tour reveals mysteries of portions of the cavern that have not been open to the public in over 100 years.

Questions?? If you want more informtion about taking youth groups caving, or you're just curious about what's involved in getting kids underground, visit the National Speleological Society, Youth Group Liaison Committee…
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