CAVING AND CAVE-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS


The linked titles on this page represent organizations that are of interest to the Texas caving community. If you have a non-commercial link you believe is useful to cavers that you'd like to see added to the TSS website please e-mail the webmaster.


Bat Conservation International
Bat Conservation International is based in Austin, Texas. It is an organization with the mission of conserving the world’s bats and their ecosystems, and it sponsors extensive outreach programs devoted to conservation, education and research.
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Bureau of Economic Geology
The Bureau of Economic Geology is the State Geological Survey of Texas and part of the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, providing geological expertise throughout the state. They also hold a large collection of geological maps that are available online.

National Cave and Karst Research Institute
The National Cave and Karst Research Institute is a government-supported, non-profit institute dedicated to cave and karst research, education and management, while conducting, supporting, facilitating and promoting associated programs. Its Karst Information Portal offers a wealth of materials for free download.
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National Speleological Society

Publications:
  • NSS News (monthly)
  • Journal of Cave and Karst Studies (quarterly)
  • American Caving Accidents (annually)
Address:  2813 Cave Avenue, Huntsville AL 35810-4431, (256) 852-1300, nss@caves.org
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National Speleological Society is the primary national cave and karst organization of the United States, with over 10,000 members and 250 affiliated grottos. The NSS does more than any other caving organization to study, explore, and conserve cave and karst resources; protect access to caves; encourage responsible management of caves and their unique environments; and promote responsible caving.

NSS Internal Organizations, Regions, and Sections

Check out the NSS Internal Organizations page for other types of organizational structures associated with the NSS. In almost every state containing a number of caves, groups of NSS cavers actively maintain data on the caves and pursuing further exploration. They are often organized into NSS Regions that work together in projects and pool resources.

Only a few of these caver groups have asked for NSS charters as other types of Internal Organizations; others are recognized but are independent. 

There are, for example, a number of NSS Sections, as well -- specialized sections affiliated with the NSS. These are made up of cavers with specialized interest in caving. Examples are Cave Diving, Geology and Surveying. Most important is the NSS Conservation & Management Section. This section is dedicated to reserving and protecting caves and karst for cavers, scientific research, and the general public; it represents one of the most important goals of the National Speleological Society.

The TSS is an Official NSS Project, one of the established national repositories of US cave data.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY The Nature Conservancy is the leading global conservation organization focused on protecting ecologically important lands and waters. They own and manage several properties with significant cave and karst resources in Texas, including Eckert James River Bat Cave and Devil’s River.
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TEXAS CAVE CONSERVANCY
The Texas Cave Conservancy was CLOSED in late 2015. It had been chartered in 1994 as a non-member, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the protection of caves, cave life, karst resources, and aquifers related to caves, through management, conservation, and land acquisition.

TEXAS CAVE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Newsletter: TCMA Passages
Address: P.O. Box 7247, Austin TX 78713 Texas Cave Management Association
The Texas Cave Management Association was chartered in 1986 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to:

  • The preservation for posterity of the caves and caverns of Texas and their mineral, biological, archaeological and aesthetic contents
  • to promote the conservation and study of caves within the state of Texas; and
  • to promote and support any scientific and educational programs on caves in Texas.
The TCMA manages and owns several caves in Texas and the organizations activities are solely for conservation, scientific and educational purposes. For more information and membership applications, contact the treasurer or visit their website.
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TEXAS CAVERS REUNION
Organizers: Don Arburn, donarburn@mac.com
The Texas Cavers Reunion is an annual social event held on the third weekend in October at locations across the state. The TCR was organized to support the TSA by giving cavers from around Texas a chance to interact with other cavers they might not otherwise meet. The TCR provides an eclectic weekend of cave-related education and training activities, fun and games, equipment and publication sales, extreme good socializing and fellowship, and the caving world's best feed. Information on the TCR can be found in the Texas Caver and on their website.
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TEXAS SPELEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Newsletter: The Texas Caver
Address: P.O. Box 8026, Austin TX 78713-8026 https://www.facebook.com/groups/28567352179/
The Texas Speleological Association, formed in 1956, is a not-for-profit organization that supports cave exploration and studies in and around the state of Texas. It is comprised of both independent members and local grottos. The TSA is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society and represents the greater caving community in Texas. The organization holds business meetings 3 times a year (one at the Texas Cavers Reunion), and sponsors caving projects throughout the state. Its goal is connect the cavers and caving organizations across Texas and promote cooperation and coordination of caving activities within the state.
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