East Tennessee Grotto


December 7, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

We are having our annual Christmas potluck and December meeting at Cherokee Caverns on Wednesday December 7 at 7PM. This will mostly be a social meeting, with one business item - ELECTIONS. We ask that everyone bring a dish to share with the group. The grotto with provide the meat. Please email if you plan to attend, so we have an idea of how much to purchase.

November 2, 2022 at 5:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

The ETG meeting on Nov 2 is fast approaching! Instead of our regular meeting, the grotto will be having a working meeting to provide much needed assistance to Cherokee Caverns.

ETG has had a long tradition of supporting Cherokee Caverns. The Grotto has developed a very close relationship with the Whidby family who have been the caretakers of the cave for many years. The Whidbys are also long-time cavers and supporters of the caving community and ETG. They have graciously allowed ETG to hold special events and our monthly meetings at the cave at ZERO cost to the grotto. We will be giving back to them by helping them with cave and grounds maintenance.

As you will see from the list of tasks below, they range from super easy to very strenuous. There is something for everyone!


Gates will be open at 5:00 for an early start. Please bring your own gloves and a headlamp for extra lighting in various areas. If you have a chainsaw and are willing to help with cutting wood, please reach out to Mendy to coordinate details. All other general tools and supplies will be available at the Cave.

Many hands make light work - Let's all rise to the occasion and show the Whidbys how much we appreciate them!

October 5, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

Our presentation will be by Art Pettit on caves he recently visited in Europe (Spain and Slovenia).

September 7, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

This month's presentation will be by Ben Miller on his dye tracing work in karst areas of the Cumberland Plateau.

August 3, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

This month's meeting will be at 7:00pm.

July 6, 2022

There will be no grotto meeting this month due to the holiday. We look forward to seeing you again in August!

June 1, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

Our presentation will be about Matt Tomlinson and Ben Miller’s ongoing dye-tracing work in Grassy Cove and Head of Sequatchie. Please bring a chair and any snacks or drinks you would like for the meeting.

May 4, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

We will be meeting this Wednesday, May 4th at Cherokee Caverns for our monthly meeting. The meeting starts at 7PM. Our presentation this month is “Drafting Cave Maps in QGIS” by Jon Zetterburg. Please remember to bring a chair and any refreshments you would like to the meeting.

April 6, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

The meeting will be at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

This month the presentation will be by Mendy Thomas-Swain and Art Pettit on drawing a map from survey data. This is Part 2 of last month's presentation on survey methods.

Plese bring a chair and beverage of you choice.

Yearly dues are now due, $15 for family, $12 for individual. Payment can be paid at the meeting to Bill DeVan or via PayPal.

March 2, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

Our March ETG meeting will be at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns.

Our presentation will be by Mendy Thomas-Swain on different survey techniques.

Yearly dues are now due, $15 for family, $12 for individual. Payment can be paid at the meeting to Bill DeVan or via PayPal.

February 2, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

At our January meeting we took a vote and decided to eliminate the trip log coordinator position.

Grotto helmet rentals were changed from $2 a month to $5 a month.

Date and time for upcoming officers meeting TBD.

Yearly dues are now due, $15 for family, $12 for individual. Payment can be paid at the meeting to Bill DeVan or via PayPal.

January 5, 2022 at 7:00pm at Cherokee Caverns

We will now be meeting at Cherokee Caverrns at 7:00PM for our monthly meetings.

This month Art Pettit will present "creating LIDAR hillshade maps for locating cave leads".

Our current officers are listed below.

Chair: Mendy Thomas Swain
Vice Chair: Art Pettit
Treasurer: Bill DeVan
Secretary: Abby Harmon

Please bring a chair and any beverages you may want during the meeting.