Junior Speleological Society

The JSS (Junior Speleological Society) is for all youth of the NSS age 7-17. The JSS provides age appropriate activities during the NSS Convention, including cave trips, hikes, swim parties, and other regional activities. At the 2007 Convention, the JSS Registration is included in the Youth Registration fee, therefore all attendants registering under the Youth category are eligible to participate!

Download the current schedule for the JSS Activities, here.

For more information, please contact Rick & Faye Bowersox at lavabeds@cox.net

Sunday:
12:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Mammoth Cave Caving trip, (26 Max.)**
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM: Canoeing on the Blue River
6:00 PM to 11:00 PM: JSS Room Open & Cave Art Workshop - (40 Max)

Monday:
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM: Mammoth Cave - Introduction to Caving - (17 Max )**
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM: Canoeing on the Blue River
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM: Wild Caving Trip - (12 Max)
4:00 PM to 11:00 PM: Cave Art Workshop - (40 Max)
6:00 PM to 11:00 PM: Open Building, come in sit down and just hang with your old friends or make some new friends.

Tuesday:
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM: Falls of the Ohio State Park Fossils Program, Lunch, and Fossil Hunt & Collecting
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM: Wild Caving Trip, (12 Max.)**
6:00 PM to 11:00 PM: Open Building, come in sit down and just hang with your old friends or make some new friends.

Wednesday :
9:00 AM to Conclusion: Vertical Training at the school gymnasium. This is one of the JSS cornerstone programs. A full day of vertical training under the very experienced instruction of Ed Keys Jr. JSS will provide all equipment, if needed or you can bring your own to practice with (subject to inspection and approval).
9:00 AM to Noon Caving Trip, (12 Max.)**
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Caving Trip, (12 Max.)**
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM: Digital Photography Workshop 6:30 PM to Conclusion: Pizza and a Movie: Pizza, soda, chips, and a movie or two. (No fee)

Thursday :
9:00 AM to Conclusion: Outdoors Vertical Training: This is where the kids can put to use the skills that they learned on Wednesday or practice what they brought from home. (No fee)
9:00 AM to Noon: Caving Trip (12 Max.)**
2:00 pm to 5:00 PM: Caving Trip (12 Max.)**

Friday:
9:00 AM to Noon: Caving Trip (12 Max.)**
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM: Map & Compass Treasure Hunt
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM: Canoeing & A Picnic Lunch: Our traditional day for the kids to get together and say good-by over a hamburger or hotdog lunch. (No Fee)
7:00 PM to conclusion: JSS Post Banquet Party

**There is no charge for any wild caving trip. We will provide transportation and have some extra equipment if needed (please check with us in advance). Please read the following pages for all the information that may affect your or your daughter/son's participation in the JSS and its activities.

Some things to remember:

        The Junior Speleological Society is charged with providing age appropriate educational and social activities during the Society's annual convention. As an adult may choose to attend a selection of sessions and social activities so is the youth of the Society encouraged to participate in the activities offered to them.
        Once registered for the JSS, its members are allowed to use the 4H Room at the times of their choosing. Indiana, like many other states, has strict laws regarding day care. JSS IS NOT A DAY CARE SERVICE. While the JSS provides scheduled, chaperoned activities participation in these activities is voluntary. Once the activity has concluded parents must make their own arrangements to pick up or meet their children. We have no sign in or sign out sheets for the use of the 4H Room. Therefore, children may come and go at their own leisure. Parents should take whatever steps they deem necessary to keep in contact with their children while they are not on a scheduled activity (small personal FM radio's work great).
        The cost of this year's activities has been set at $75.00 per registrant and provides a week's worth of scheduled events. Your fees provide everything from the pizza and soda on the movie night to the 15-passenger vans used to transport the kids to and from each event.
        In years past the JSS has used approximately 98% of the registration fees collected in providing the convention activities enjoyed by the youth. All excess funds were returned to the Society with any other convention profits. The use of computers, climbing equipment, some caving equipment, and other electronic items has been donated for the enjoyment of the youth during the convention and then returned to the owners. It has been these donations and those that have volunteered their time and energy that have made JSS programs in the past possible.
        The JSS would like to thank those that have volunteered in years past for their invaluable service. We could not have provided the quantity or quality of activities without those volunteers and we deeply appreciate their generosity. Likewise, those that have become permanent staff members have year after year donated their time and energy toward the enrichment of the Society's youth. The specialized knowledge, skills, and experience they bring with them make the realization of the goals of the JSS.

JSS Convention Guidelines and Information:

    
• All times listed are for departure from the JSS Room (4H Room) at the Campground. Please check in at the JSS Room 1 hour before departure time. If a trip is full an alternate list will be formed. Names on the alternate list will be selected starting at 1 hour before the trip is scheduled to leave. Extra trips will be added as participation increases and volunteers are available.     
• Trips will be returning within hour of the scheduled time.     
• Children will need a sack lunch for the trips that are all day long. Snacks are also encouraged. Water will need to be brought along.     
• Proper clothing and equipment (including shoes, gloves, helmets, lighting and knee pads) must be used. Lighting sources attached to the helmets are required. Please see guidelines below.     
• Children under the age of eight (8) years of age must have a parent accompany them.     
• Updated information will be posted daily in the JSS Room and in the convention newspaper.

JSS Caving Trip Checklist :

The JSS provides age appropriate educational and social activities. Some of the activities offered involve a degree of risk. Therefore we ask that children be as prepared as possible for their safety and enjoyment while on the trips. The JSS has a limited number of items for lend.

Please inquire at the JSS Room as early as possible for information. Unless otherwise specified the following items are required and will be checked prior to the departure of each trip.

1. HELMET (Equipped with a multi point chinstrap).
2. PRIMARY LIGHT SOURCE (Helmet mounted).
3. TWO BACK UP LIGHT SOURCES (i.e. flashlights, etc. Glow sticks can be used as a third source of light only. Candles do not count as a back up light source).
4. SPARE PARTS FOR LIGHTS (This includes appropriate replacement parts for the chosen light source. i.e. spare batteries for flashlight or parts kit for a carbide lamp. Don't forget a proper container for disposing of spent carbide).
5. CAVE PACK (Small daypack which can be handled easily in a cave passage).
6. WATER BOTTLE (Plastic or metal, not glass).
7. FOOD (Snack food, candy bars, cheese, bagels, sandwiches, etc).
8. DUCT TAPE (This is a suggested item and a good supply will be on hand at the JSS Room).
9. GLOVES (Strongly recommended for caving, required for rapelling).
10. KNEE PADS (Volleyball/basketball pads work very well worn under coveralls or jeans).
11. COVERALLS OR OLD CLOTHES (Now is not the time for a fashion statement. Leave the Calvin Klein's behind...worn out Levi's will do. Please remember caves are cold and sometimes wet places. Coverall's over your clothes will add warmth).
12. STURDY SHOES OR HIKING BOOTS (Rocks are sharp and will exact wear and tear on footwear. Please remember that $200.00 Nike's will be destroyed after the first trip).
13. PLASTIC TRASH BAGS (For placing soiled clothing and equipment).
14. YOUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE!