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What does the NSS do?

NSS members work to protect caves and it's natural contents by holding regular cave restoration and clean up projects. We have been a leader in gating caves to protect them from vandalism and protect the animals that live inside. The NSS even offers a cave vandalism deterrence award of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of cave vandals. The NSS maintains relationships with government and private organizations that are concerned with cave issues. When the Forest Service proposed to charge fees to visit wild caves they manage, the NSS offered to document the value of cavers' volunteer service to the Forest Service. In 1999, the first full year of the Volunteer Value program, Society members provided nearly $200,000 worth of service towards the conservation and management of caves on Forest Service land. As a result the fee was abandonded.

The NSS advances the study and science of speleology. The NSS was instrumental in the creation of Project Underground, which trains school teachers and provides classroom materials about caves and karst. The NSS contributes support toward the American Geological Institutes television program, “Inside Science.” The NSS is also the leading publisher of cave related materials. The largest cave related research library is located in Huntsville , Alabama , headquarters of the NSS. The NSS awards thousands of dollars annually in grants to karst conservancies for land purchase and to individuals and groups for research and education advancement.

The NSS promotes fellowship among cavers and the community. The NSS sponsors the National Cave Rescue Commission which conducts cave rescue symposiums as well as weekend and week long cave rescue classes all over the United States . The NSS holds an annual convention bringing together cavers from all over the country. Both a national committee and local NSS chapters regularly introduce Scout troops to safe, responsible cave exploration. Through it's internal organizations or grottos, cavers meet regularly to coordinate activities and share ideas.