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The NSS Nature Preserves

  • McFail's Cave Nature Preserve (NY)
  • Shelta Cave Nature Preserve (AL)
  • John Guilday Caves Nature Preserve (WV)
  • Kingston Saltpeter Cave Nature Preserve (GA)
  • James Gage Karst Preserve (NY)
  • Warren Cave Nature Preserve (FL)
  • Donald R. Russell Nature Preserve (OK)
  • Schoharie Caverns Nature Preserve (NY)
  • Mill Creek Sink Nature Preserve (FL)(aka Alachua Sinks)
  • Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve (PA)
  • Wells Cave Nature Preserve (KY)
  • Great Expectations Cave Nature Preserve (WY)
  • Richard Blenz Nature Preserve (IN)
  • New River Cave Nature Preserve (VA)
  • William J. Stephenson Nature Preserve (AL)
  • Sims Sink Nature Preserve (FL)
  • Haggard Nature Preserve (TN)
  • Albert and Ethel Ogden Nature Preserve (TN)
  • Thunderhole Nature Preserve (TN)   Our Newest

 
Updates on the White-Nose Syndrome crisis in Bat Colonies.

NSS Preserves
 

The NSS began over seventy-eight years ago as a collective of individuals interested in caves and caving. From the beginning, we recognized the need to protect the fragile and timeless environment, both above and underground. Conservation has always been a prime tenet of the NSS's foundations.

The NSS owns seventeen Preserves and manages two Preserves owned by others. Each Preserve is cared for by a local Management Committee. These committees report to the NSS Board of Governors, through the NSS Nature Preserves Committee, in the Cave Management Division under the Department of the Administrative Vice-President (currently, Adam Weaver). Tom Griffin and Julie Schenk-Brown co-chair the NSS Nature Preserves Committee. Tom can be reached by phone at (240) 676-3184 or both by email at preserves@caves.org.

Each Management Committee has overall responsibility for the upkeep, security, and general well-being of the property. As with most NSS functions, the Preserves rely on local cavers to provide the required labor.

Please Note!

For preservation reasons, we respectfully request that no GeoCaches be placed in or near caves on the NSS Nature Preserves. NSS Policy prohibits such activity in or near the caves. Placement of geocaches on the rest of the property is regulated by each Preserve Manager.   Please check with the respective Managers, before placing caches there.
 

Announcements

  • Thunderhole Preserve: See the new Preserve.
     
  • Albert & Ethel Ogden Preserve: See the new photos.
     
  • Haggard Preserve: See the new photos.
     
  • Sims Sink Preserve: See the new photos.
     

 
Other information pertinent to the use and protection of the NSS Nature Preserves can be found in the following Acts of the NSS Board of Governors:

  • Policy For Cave Conservation
  • Exploring Caves By Scout And Explorer Groups
  • Guidelines for Research on NSS Property

Another good source of information about Youth Groups is available in the following brochure, Youth Group Caving. This document was prepared by the Youth Groups Liaison Committee of The National Speleological Society.


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about the NSS Preserves pages,
please e-mail Gary Bush at asstwebmaster@caves.org

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