Published: August 21, 2008 05:26 pm            

Spring Mill State Park caving event this weekend

Explore the underground with Spring Mill State Park during its third annual Gone Caving! event, Saturday and Sunday.

A new feature this year is a wild caving trip suitable for beginning cavers Saturday afternoon for up to 12 people. Basic caving equipment will be provided. A fee of $10 per person for the wild cave trip will be charged to cover costs.

Participants in the wild caving trip must be at least 11 years old. Minors must be accompanied by a registered adult. Advance registration for the trip is required by calling (812) 849-4129 by 4 p.m. today. If there are still open slots available, registration will also be accepted from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the park’s Twin Caves shack.

Wild caving trip participants will meet at the Twin Caves parking lot in Spring Mill State Park at 2 p.m. and carpool to the cave entrance. Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist, said that an off-property cave was selected so that the trip would be appropriate for first-time and younger cavers. Wild caving opportunities within Spring Mill State Park are more challenging and most of its caves are closed to the public.

“This is a great opportunity for people who have never explored a wild cave before to get their feet muddy and enjoy an afternoon underground,” Vance said.

Plenty of fun also still awaits those who don’t go on the wild caving trip. On Saturday, kids can create cave art to transform Butternut shelter into a gallery. Visitors will be able to vote on their favorite pieces. A hike to Hamer Cave overlook, activities from Project Underground and a limestone necklace craft also will be offered.

Singer/songwriter Paul Michael Ash will provide Saturday evening entertainment with a concert of caving songs in the campground amphitheater at 8:30 p.m.

Programs continue on Sunday with a hike to Donaldson Cave, a cave rescue demonstration, sculpting of cave formations out of clay, and an opportunity to learn about the kinds osf animals that live in caves.

A cave movie marathon will be shown in the Nature Center each day. For the complete program schedule, see dnr.IN.gov/parklake/12066.htm.

Park admission during the event is $5 per vehicle for in-state residents and $7 per vehicle for out-of-state residents. 2008 Annual Entrance Passes are also available. For more information on this and other upcoming events, contact Coletta Prewitt at (812) 849-4129 or cprewitt@dnr.in.gov.

        

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