Ijams Field Day: Caving

Ages 18 and up only.

Description: Have you ever wondered what is behind the bars blocking the cave entrances in Ijams urban wilderness? Well get ready to find out. This program will take us into the cave itself and introduce participants to the strange world beneath our feet. We will learn about caving etiquette, cave ecology, and search for rock formations as well as a variety of cave dwelling creatures.

Materials Participants Should Bring: A long sleeve shirt and long pants which can get muddy, comfortable closed toe shoes which will not slip off easily in thick mud, water bottle, and snacks. Optional: Rain jacket and rain pants, a change of clothes for the drive home.

Information to Note: Ijams caves are extremely wet and muddy, and they maintain a temperature in the 50's, regardless of the season. Expeditions into them are physically demanding and require crawling through tight spaces. Participants must provide their own clothing to wear, which will likely get ruined. Ijams will provide a caving helmet and headlamp for each participant, along with additional details closer to the actual date.

Location: This program meets at the Meads Quarry parking lot. We will spend the entirety of the class outdoors.