Caving Organizations

National Speleological Society (NSS) -- The National Speleological Society website has lots of information and is an excellent resource for people interested learning more about caves and caving. - OHG is only one of many NSS grottos around the country. Find a grotto near you by clicking this link.

Meramec Valley Grotto (MVG) -- A large, diverse grotto based in the St. Louis area.

MSM Spelunkers Club (MSM) -- The oldest grotto in Missouri, based in the Rolla area.

Lake Ozark Grotto (LOG) -- Based in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

Kansas City Area Grotto (KCAG) -- Based in the Kansas City area.

Chouteau Grotto -- Based in the Columbia area.

Middle Mississippi Valley Grotto (MMV) -- Based in the St. Louis area.

Stygian Grotto -- Based in the St. Louis area.

Little Egypt Grotto (LEG) -- Based in Carbondale, Illinois.

Boston Mountain Grotto (BMG) -- Based in northwest Arkansas.

Branson Area Tri-Lakes Grotto (BATL) -- A new grotto based in the Branson area.

Ozark Cave Diving Alliance (OCDA) -- A group of experienced cave divers that are mapping the incredibly deep and lengthy springs of the Ozarks.

Cave Science Organizations

Missouri Speleological Survey (MSS) -- A statewide organization of cavers dedicated to locating, documenting, mapping, and studying the caves and karst of Missouri.

Cave Research Foundation (CRF) -- A scientific organization dedicated to documenting, studying, and protecting caves and karst resources. CRF members map caves all over the country, including the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri, and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.

Center for Cave and Karst Studies (CCKS) -- Part of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, this organization works to solve environmental problems associated with karst through research by students, faculty, and staff.

National Cave and Karst Research Institute -- A new organization based in Carlsbad, New Mexico; formed to further the science of speleology, to encourage and provide public education in the field, and to promote environmentally sound cave and karst management.

International Union of Speleology (UIS) -- A worldwide organization of cavers and caving groups.

Cave Conservation Organizations

Missouri Caves and Karst Conservancy (MCKC) -- A statewide organization of cavers that purchase, manage, and conserve cave properties in Missouri.

Carroll Cave Conservancy (CCC) -- A conservancy dedicated to the exploration, management, restoration, and preservation of one of the longest and largest caves in Missouri.

Riverbluff Cave -- An organization dedicated to the preservation and study of a recently-discovered, paleontologically rich southwest Missouri cave.

American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) --

Southeastern Cave Conservancy (SCCi) --

Texas Cave Conservancy (TCC) -- Currently the largest cave conservancy in the country, this organization buys and preserves cave properties in Texas.

National Speleological Society - Cave Conservation Section --

Mammoth Cave Restoration Field Camp --

High Guads Restoration Project --

Cave Biology

Bat Conservation International (BCI) -- An organization dedicated to public education about bats.

Biospeleology -- The biology of caves, karst, and groundwater.

Biospeleology - Guide to Missouri Cave Life -- A great resource for identifying the different critters found in Missouri caves.

Learn More About Caves

Ozark Caving -- A wide ranging site on caves, caving, and cavers in Missouri and Arkansas.

Missouri Springs -- A good reference that includes descriptions of the twenty largest springs in Missouri.

Virtual Cave -- A great resource that explains the geology of different types of caves as well as presenting beautiful photos all of the types of speleothems (commonly known as cave formations) found underground.

Longest and Deepest Caves in the World -- An accurate, updated list that is maintained by the NSS.

National Speleological Society - Education Division -- Lots of general educational information on caves.

Bat Conservation International (BCI) --

More Than Skin Deep - A Teacher's Guide to Caves -- An online eduational resource courtesy of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Ozark Adventure Newsletter --

Inside Earth Newsletter --

National Park Service (NPS) --

Missouri Department of Natural Resources - State Parks (DNR) --

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) --

U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) --

Conor Watkins' Ozark Mountain Experience --

Caving Conventions, Gatherings, and Gear

2006 NSS Convention -- The annual convention of the National Speleological Society.

Mississippi Valley Ozark Region (MVOR) -- A bi-annual caving convention (usually held in Missouri) that features cave trips, camping, cave gear vendors, a banquet, a huge bonfire, and fellowship with hundreds of cavers from the Midwest.

TAG Fall Cave-In --

National Cave and Karst Management Symposium --

Speleobooks --

Cave Books --

Inner Mountain Outfitters -- This company has one of the widest selections of caving gear.

Bob and Bob -- The original mail order caving supply store.

Bass Pro Shops -- Bass Pro carries a good selection of Petzl helmets and headlamps, as well vertical caving gear.

Information on Tourist Caves

U.S. Show Caves Directory -- An up to date listing of all the caves open to the public in the United States.

National Caves Association (NCA) --

International Show Caves Association (ISCA) --

Missouri Caves Association (MCA) -- This site features a clickable map of all the caves open to the public in Missouri (and Arkansas).

Talking Rocks Cavern -- A beautiful cave located just west of Branson.

Fantastic Caverns -- A large, 'ride through' cave located just northwest of Springfield.

Bridal Cave -- A well decorated cave located near Camdenton and the Lake of the Ozarks.

Blanchard Springs Caverns -- A spectacular U.S. Forest Service cave located near Mountain View, Arkansas.

Cave Photography Sites

Charity Gramm's Photo Page -- Photos of southwest Missouri caves by OHG president, Charity Gramm.

Lloyd Morrison's Photo Page -- Photos of Florida springs and Missouri caves by OHG member, Lloyd Morrison.

Nature Photography.US -- The website of professional nature photographers and OHG members Bob Harvey and Diane Kelsay.

Carroll Cave Conservancy (CCC) -- This site has amazing photos of one of the most beautiful caves in Missouri.

Ennis Cave -- Photos of one of the longest caves in Arkansas.

Lechuguilla Cave Photo Map -- An interactive site featuring stunning photographs of one of the most beautiful caves in the world.

D.C. Austin Photography --

Peter Jones Photography --

Innermost Imagery --

Darklight Imagery --

Other Stuff

Intellicast Radar Loop - Springfield -- Check the weather before you go underground, courtesy of Intellicast.

Are You a Caver or a Spelunker? -- This page will tell you the difference between the two.

Caves.com -- An online magazine about cavers and cave exploration.

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