Greater Cincinnati Grotto

The Greater Cincinnati Grotto and The Great Saltpetre Cave are happy to host a Wilderness First Aid (SOLO certification) course on July 25-26, 2026!
This Wilderness First Aid class will teach critical skills to provide evaluation and first aid for common injury & illness scenarios in outdoor environments where other medical response may not be available in a timely manner.
This class is being offered at a GREATLY discounted price ($180) as a service to our caving community (typical costs of these classes are upwards of $300). The lead instructor is a caver themself and will share wilderness first aid perspective for our unique environment!
Please see further information and register at this link: https://www.gcgcavers.com/WFA/index.shtml
The class will be limited to 15 students.

One spot remaining in registration! The Vertical Training Commission is pleased to present a VTC Level 1 course at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Kentucky on June 19-21!

This course will teach single rope technique on a Frog ascending system. Cavers with no previous vertical experience and cavers who would like to try new techniques or refine existing vertical caving skills are welcome! This course is $195 or $145 for NSS members. Please see further information and register at this link:
https://caves.org/event/vtc-level-1-course-2026-06-19-olive-hill-kentucky/

Several of our GCG members will be facilitating stations for this workshop at the 2026 NSS Convention! This will go through several considerations for contingencies when caving - including several small party techniques!

Contingency Considerations in Caving Workshop - National Speleological Society Thursday, July 9th HALF DAY Thursday, July 9, 2026 8AM-12PM Even the most experienced caving teams can encounter unexpected mishaps. Sharpen your technical skills and learn to prevent and overcome…

We had a great turnout for our first vertical practice of the year!

Vertical practices are great for all skill levels! Beginners are encouraged to come out and learn about gear and the basics. For more advanced cavers, maybe you're ready to start practicing rebelays and other technical maneuvers. And for experts, don't let those skills get rusty!

Our next vertical practice will be April 21st. Hope to see you then!

Want to learn more about NSS Convention? This is a great opportunity to get updates and ask questions!

Thinking of attending the 2026 NSS Convention this summer or already registered? Join us for a Zoom Q&A info session on Sunday, April 19th at 7:00 pm EDT to learn more (invite below)!

Don't forget - the pre-registration discount ends on April 24th and the price jumps up! Register now! https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/

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A shoutout to The Great Saltpetre Cave #14 on this Rockcastle bucket list! Visit us at Open House May 16-17!

Create your very own Rockcastle County Bucket List and experience the heart of Appalachian culture, music, and outdoor beauty in Rockcastle County. From live music and local history to scenic views and hidden gems, there’s something here for everyone to discover.

✨ Explore local landmarks
🎵 Experience authentic Kentucky music
🌄 Take in breathtaking natural beauty
🍽️ Support hometown restaurants & shops
📸 Capture unforgettable moments along the way

Whether you're a first-time visitor or a lifelong local, your bucket list is waiting to be filled. How many can you check off? Snap a photo & tag us and the location in it. Get creative and the best snapshots will be featured on our social media & website (with you tagged in it). If you complete all of the bucket list items by the end of 2026, you will receive a prize.

The Greater Cincinnati Grotto would like to support Carter Caves State Resort Park’s new summer cave program! This KY treasure of a park has been a long time partner with our grotto and is a great way to get introduced to caves & caving!

Ready to go deep? 🕳️🪨

Join us at Carter Caves State Resort Park for the Inaugural Carter County Caving Weekend — August 21st–23rd, 2026!

This exciting weekend is designed for experienced cavers looking to explore caves on and off park property. For just $10 per person, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow cavers and experience some incredible underground adventures right here in Carter County.

Attendance is limited to those affiliated with a grotto or current members of the National Speleological Society (NSS).

If you’re interested in attending, you can sign up here:
https://forms.gle/vrymdyLxG7z98hYF9

Carter County: Go Deep or Go Home.

Yesterday, the Greater Cincinnati Grotto partnered with the University for Cincinnati’s Mountaineering Club to do a cave cleanup! Along with removing 26 bags of garbage, tires, and other items from the cave & doing a mile of road cleanup, the team also cleaned up graffiti from the cave walls!
Many thanks to our new conservation chair Thomas Gott for organizing this event!

The National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) will be hosting two four-day SPAR (Small Party Assisted Rescue) courses next March at the Little River Property in Menlo, Georgia (the former site of the TAG Fall Cave-In). The first course will be held Saturday, March 7 through Tuesday March 10, 2026; the second course will be held Thursday March 12 through Sunday March 15, 2026. See the attached flyer for course details; additional course details and the pre-registration site are at https://caves.org/event/ncrc-spar-march-2026/ .

Registration will be via a pre-registration lottery at the above-linked site; the pre-registration window is open now through 11:59 PM Eastern on December 28, 2025.

NCRC Small Party Assisted Rescue (SPAR) Courses, Menlo, GA, March 7 - 10 and March 12 - 15, 2026 - National Speleological Society The National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) Southeastern Region will hold two four-day Small Party Assisted Rescue (SPAR) seminars March 7 – 10 and March 12 – 15, 2026 at the…