A grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society (NSS). They generally function as the local NSS chapters or clubs. There are hundreds of grottos in the United States! 

https://caves.org/find-a-grotto/

Founded in 1941, the NSS is the largest membership organization dedicated to caves & caving. Composed of over 8,000 members and 250+ local chapters – known as grottos – they work to connect cavers so they can work on exploring, studying, and conserving caves worldwide.

Joining ETG is easy!

1. Fill out a membership application form
2. Attend a meeting. 

We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM at Historic Cherokee Caverns (unless otherwise noted). No prior caving experience is necessary and all are welcome.

Pay your dues. Dues are currently $12 for the year and can be paid to treasurer Bill DeVan (or any available officer). 

Caves are fragile environments and caving is an inherently dangerous activity. For the protection of both caves and cavers, we do not share cave locations on our website or our public social media pages. This helps prevent damage, vandalism, threats to wildlife, and unsafe exploration. 

If you are interested in going caving with us, please consider joining the grotto! After joining, you will have access to our private Facebook page. This is where most of our trip information can be found.

The following checklist is a basic overview of items that should be brought along for a basic, horizontal caving trip. Caving equipment and gear may vary depending on the cave or other factors. 

Required Items:

• Helmet 

Ideally UIAA-approved, multiple hit resistant helmet with a strap. Cavers most often use rock climbing-style helmets. 

• Lighting 

Three sources of light is the recommended minimum. Cavers often pack two to three headlamps, a flashlight, and/or extra batteries. 

• Gardening Gloves or Work Gloves 

Wearing gloves for caving protects both you and the cave! Gloves protect your hands from sharp rocks. They also protect cave formations and animals from the natural oils in your skin.

• Hiking Boots or Heavy-Duty, Rubber Work Boots. 
• Warm and Suitable Clothes

Caves are often between 54°F and 60°F year round. When caving, please wear durable clothes and dress in layers. 

• Water
• Snacks

Recommended Items: 

• Knee/Elbow Pads

Caving often requires crawling through rocks and mud. Knee and elbow pads prevent joint injury, protect against sharp rocks, and make long crawls comfortable. 

• Caving Backpack 
• Small First Aid Kit

Caving gear can be purchased at a number of different vendors. We recommend checking out some of the vendors on our “Links” page.