Mammoth Cave National Park Cave Education Partners

Mammoth Cave National Park is one of thousands of caves found throughout the world. The National Parks Service works cooperatively with several organizations that protect and study caves. Many other organizations have environmental education curricula that may assist you in studying National Parks and environmental issues — both natural and cultural. Explore the links below to learn more about some of these caves and organizations.

National Parks with Caves
The National Park Service protects over 70 parks with cave resources. Just a few are listed below.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico is home to millions of bats and to the largest room in a cave in the United States. The Big Room is 14 acres. Lechiguilla Cave, the deepest cave in the United States and one of the longest, is also in the park but is not open to the public.

Craters of the Moon National Monument in central Idaho preserves a landscape of volcanism. Beneath the surface lava flows are many lava river tubes, four of which are open to the public. Boy Scout Cave has ice on its floor year-round.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves numerous limestone caverns beneath the famous wilderness road. One of these, Cudjo, has very recently been opened to the public.

Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada protects Lehman Cave, known for its rare shield formations, and is open to the public throughout the year.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park protects the most active volcanoes in the United States. Lava river caves are still being formed by molten lava, while others, such as the lighted Thurston Lave Tube, are solid enough to now explore.

Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota preserves the third-longest cave system known in the world, with 123 miles surveyed so far. It is an important hibernacula for many bat species.

Lava Beds National Monument in northern California contains the highest concentration of lava tubes in North America, with 430 known caves, some up to 60 feet in diameter; two dozen of these are developed for public use.

Oregon Caves National Monument in southern Oregon preserves caves within a dolomite mountainside and protects ice age fossils such as jaguars and bears as well as endemic species such as cave centipedes.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways contains 300 known limestone and dolomite caverns, none of which are developed for public use.

Pinnacles National Monument in central California is a remnant of an ancient volcano and contains several talus caves, including Bear Gulch Cave, which is an important hibernacula for the rare Townsend's Big-eared bat and is closed to the public. Talus caves are formed when large rockfalls and landslides fall in such a way as to leave air pockets.

Russell Cave National Historic Site is the location of an historic rock shelter used for thousands of years by Native Americans. It also protects seven miles of limestone cave passages, two and a half of which are open to visitors who obtain a permit.

Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California protects Crystal Cave, which is known for its beautiful formations and is open to the public.

Timpanogos Caves National Monument, high on the side of American Canyon near Salt Lake City, preserves three caves known for their abundant helictite and anthodite formations. The trail to the cave is a challenging 11/2 mile hike gaining 1,000 feet in elevation.

Wind Cave National Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota preserves limestone and dolomite caverns known for their unique "boxwork" formations.

The Bureau of Land Management manages land mostly in western states. They also have a wide array of education resources on their web site.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is charged with protecting the animals that live within and near our nation's caves.

Cave Research and Conservation Organizations

The American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) is a nonprofit organization formed in 1977 for the purpose of protecting caves and karstlands. ACCA is committed to developing public education programs and professional services which promote land use planning and proper stewardship of underground natural resources. It's headquarters is just a few miles down the road from Mammoth Cave, in the town of Horse Cave, Kentucky. ACCA works with the National Park Service under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The National Speleological Society (NSS) was founded for the purpose of advancing the study, conservation, exploration, and knowledge of caves. More than 12,000 members in 200 grottos (clubs) conduct regular meetings to bring cavers together within their general area and coordinate activities which may include mapping, cleaning, and gating sensitive caves. NSS's Environmental Education Committee prints Project Underground, a curricula on cave and karst resources. NSS works with the National Park Service under a formal MOU.

The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) grew out of the efforts of cave explorers working in the Mammoth Cave area of Kentucky in the late 1940's. It is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to:

Most of CRF's work is conducted on state and federal lands under a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Center for Cave and Karst Studies at Western Kentucky University (WKU) is located just 20 miles southeast of Mammoth Cave, in the heart of "cave country." The center's objectives are to:

WKU works with the National Park Service under several MOU's. The Center also offers seminars and consultations and operates Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY.

The Karst Waters Institute is a nonprofit institution whose mission is to improve the fundamental understanding of karst water systems through sound scientific research and the education of professionals and the public. The result will be increased knowledge of the need for as well as more effective management of this vital water resource.

Bat Conservation International promotes education about bats worldwide, and works with the National Park Service under a Memorandum of Understanding.

The National Park Service Parks as Classrooms program promotes the use of national parks as classrooms. The page includes links to many lessons, parks with education programs and traveling trunks, and schools that use parks for education.

EE-Link is the main clearinghouse for Environmental Education resources and organizations on the web. It is run by the North American Association for Environmental Education.

Kentucky Water Watch organizes people around the state to monitor water resources. Many schools take part in this; workshops are offered.

Project Learning Tree uses the forest to help students gain an awareness and knowledge of the natural and man-made environments.

Project WILD and Aquatic WILD are based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. The program emphasizes wildlife— because of its intrinsic and ecological values, as well as its importance as a basis for teaching how ecosystems function. In the face of competing needs and pressures affecting the quality and sustainability of life on earth, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.

Project WET facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and through the establishment of state and internationally sponsored Project WET programs.

Project Archaeology builds awareness of cultural resources and teaches young people about their importance and fragility. The traces of the past, archaeological sites and artifacts, help connect us to the land and give us understanding of our place in history. Project Archaeology is an educational program designed to teach America the value of our archeological heritage.

Project Food Land and People promotes approaches to learning to help people better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment and people of the world.

WOW!: The Wonder of Wetlands is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wetland restoration, research, and education since 1972.

Project Underground is affiliated with the National Speleological Society and is a curricula book available to educators.

National Parks with Caves The National Park Service protects over 70 parks with cave resources. Just a few are listed below.

Cave Research and Conservation Organizations

National Parks with Caves
The National Park Service protects over 70 parks with cave resources. Just a few are listed below.