Clarksville Cave

Hello all,

 This year as part of the 8th grade science trip we will be heading back to Clarksville Cave in upstate New York after going to Howe Caverns the past few years due to closures of caves in the area. We are excited to bring students back to a natural cave in the area and looking forward to this experience along with our students. Some notes about preparations and the cave itself are below:

CAVE PREP

1.  Cave Waiver Form - This must be filled out completely at home and returned as part of the permission slip packet. The Northeastern Cave Conservancy requires a student signature, a parent/guardian signature and two witnesses to sign this as well. This can be another adult or an older sibling as well. We cannot let students into the cave who have not returned the waiver. Please see my other post pertaining to the field trip forms if you need another copy.
2. CLOTHING BROUGHT TO SCHOOL: As stated in the packing list students will be bringing to school on Monday September 25th a COMPLETE change of clothes, including shoes, in a trash bag with their cave helmets. After the cave they will be changing into these clothes and putting their wet and muddy clothes into the trash bag to be stored under the bus.
3. CAVE CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS: Students will come to school in their cave clothes and shoes - this includes a long sleeve shirt, jacket, pants and gym shorts underneath their pants so they can change outside after the cave. NO SHORTS ALLOWED ON THIS TRIP as it is an outdoor trip. SHORTS are not allowed in the cave either.
4. FOOTWEAR: Students can wear old sneakers, hiking boots, or rain boots in the cave. Their is water and mud in the cave so shoes and socks will be wet.
5. Cave helmets:  Students can use a bicycle helmet with a flashlight taped to it or wear a headlamp underneath their bike helmet. Either option is fine but students are required to have both a helmet and an attached light source. 

Clarksville Cave:

1. The cave is an optional experience for students. Students, as long as they are adequately prepared and have filled out the form, can decide up to the point of being at the entrance as to whether or not they want to go in. There will be staff remaining outside for any students who do not wish to enter the cave or who are not adequately prepared as stated in the points above.
2. Time: Students will be in the cave for approximately 30-45 minutes with their science teacher and WMS staff. We go into the cave in small groups of 10 students and 2 staff. 
3. Click here to see the Northeastern Cave Conservancy's Page on the Clarksville Cave. This page includes photos inside the cave and other general information.
4. After the Cave: Upon exiting the cave students will be escorted back to the bus to retrieve their trash bags from the bays underneath. They will then clean up, store away all wet clothes and helmets and bring these home when we arrive back to WMS.