Caving

Know at least three light sources for caving and the importance of having extra light supplies and backup lights. Have an experienced person in caving show you how a carbide light works.

List all equipment needed for a successful caving trip excluding vertical equipment and start putting together your own set of equipment.

Locate an experienced caver and join that person in exploring at least three relatively easy caves accumulating a total of ten hours of actual caving time.

Keep a log of these explorations, noting date, cave locations, conditions, features, hours spent in each, names of other members in your party and trip leaderís name.

Learn, know well and practice caving safety rules.

Practice ìwalkingî yourself up a steep slope by pulling yourself along a rope.

Describe several ways caves were used in Bible times.

Participate in the mapping process of a small cave you have explored.

Know the names of at least five different speleotherms and three cave dwelling animals. Include in your report those you have observed while caving.

Write a report of at least 500 words on ten or more hours of your caving experience and include all you have learned while carrying out the previous nine requirements.

Have the Caving Honor.

Obtain geological survey maps of the area where you go caving. Map out on them the location of all known caves you have explored.

Be able to give an explanation for how these caves were formed; what they have in common; what can be expected in them in the way of physical characteristics such as types and extent of formations, effects of prior water activity, presence and nature of fossils, presence and nature of life forms including bats.

Obtain proper rappelling equipment and learn how to use it either by studying a book or mountain climbing techniques or locating a person or club group already experienced who are willing to instruct you. Plan and execute a cave trip where it is necessary to rappel at least forty feet (12 meters) and climb back out.

Conduct a biological survey of a cave entrance, the cave twilight zone, the deep cave floor, the deep cave wall and the deep cave ceiling. Photograph single specimens of, and identify every form of plant and animal life in each of these troglodytic zones. Compare pictures with nearest natural history museum for help in identification. Publications on cave flora and fauna of the National Speleological Society will help also. Remember slogan, ìTake nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.î

Log 100 hours of caving experience. Keep accurate records of each caving trip.

Conduct a caving course, to be climaxed by several field trips for a group of young people in your community or church.

Make friends with at least one cave owner. Determine what he expects of cavers exploring his cave, and do more than he expects you to do in following these directions.