Following Their Footsteps: An All Girls Summer Camp at Mammoth Cave

The Following Their Footsteps campers take a break while on a crawling tour inside Mammoth Cave.

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Mammoth Cave National Park’s Environmental Education program offered 20 middle school girls from Barren County Middle School in Glasgow, KY the chance to learn about the impacts of prominent women throughout the history of Mammoth Cave National Park and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. The students attended a one-week day camp where they walked and crawled in the footsteps of amazing women who helped shape the Mammoth Cave and south-central Kentucky region. Each day of the camp focused on a different theme highlighting a different woman or era in each park’s history.

Campers explored the history of cave tour routes that have been in use since the early 1800s with Mammoth Cave’s Greening Youth Intern Alena.

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History Makers

The campers viewed historic signatures inside Mammoth Cave left by the first documented female cave guide, Elizabeth “Eliza” Gatewood. Eliza led tours for some of the first modern visitors to Mammoth Cave in the early 1800s. The group discussed Eliza’s influence as a woman in a place of business during a time when most women were not working independently outside their homes.

They also explored other cave passages and learned about famous photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston who visited the cave in 1891. Benjamin Johnston took pictures of the cave using volatile powder and was the first woman to publish her pictures of Mammoth Cave in an article entitled “Mammoth Cave by Flashlight.” The students visited several of the iconic cave locations where Johnston took her famous photos.

Ranger Rachel explains her duties as a Law Enforcement Officer at Mammoth Cave National Park to the Following Their Footsteps campers.

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Modern Influencers

In addition to looking back into history, the campers also spent a day discussing women of today and how they continue to impact the stewardship and mission of the National Park Service. The group toured the administrative operations of Mammoth Cave National Park and were introduced to a number of different women who work in Law Enforcement, Interpretation, Resource Management, Facilities, Administration, Public Affairs, and Business Services. This was a highlight for park staff to get to speak to and interact with these future leaders.

Following Their Footsteps campers explore Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park with Ranger Noelle and visit the Memorial Building which protects the Symbolic Birth Cabin of Abraham Lincoln.

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Visting Lincoln's Birthplace

The week did not just focus on women at Mammoth Cave. The campers also spent one day of the camp learning about women's history and its impact at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park located 45 minutes north in Hodgenville, KY. From Nancy Hanks Lincoln who taught her son, Abe, the importance of reading, to the many women who were instrumental in the founding of the historical park, they learned the importance of strong women and how they can influence our history.

Future Leaders

The exciting conclusion to camp saw the campers team up to lead their friends and families on a guided cave tour through the Upper Historic level of Mammoth Cave. The students used the wealth of information and caving skills they gained during their week at camp to provide a memorable and educational experience for everyone.

Ranger Lili helps campers record the sights and sounds of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace for an exercise in writing poetry.

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Mammoth Cave Environmental Education

The Environmental Education team at Mammoth Cave sees over 56,000 students and teachers annually though in-classroom, in-park, or virtual programs. Each summer several day camps in the park are offered to local schools and youth organizations that focus on environmental stewardship, nature education, and history of Mammoth Cave. This was the first summer camp specifically designed to focus solely on women’s history and developing our future women leaders.

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  Women of the National Park Service

  NPS History is Women's History!

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  Environmental Education at Mammoth Cave

  Mammoth Cave National Park's Environmental Education program reaches students through in-park, in-classroom, and virtual programs.

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  A Women's History of Mammoth Cave

  Women have had an influence at Mammoth Cave that dates back thousands of years.