July was a busy month for SPG members.  On the 5^th, Alicia and Jon Beard spent the day hiking through the karst features of Ha Ha Tonka State Park with a camera.  On the 7^th, Eric Hertzler was assisted by Jon Beard, Roy Gold, Jason Hardinger and Bob Taylor in a Pulaski County dig that might result in the future discovery of a new cave (?).

On the 8^th, Jon Beard, Zach Copeland, Roy Gold and his son-in-law, plus Jason Hardinger, Kasi Johnson, Gabe Rodgers, Jack Rosenkoetter, Charley, Jeff and Sarah Young plus Jim Huckins of Chouteau Grotto removed spray paint and other graffiti and a bag of trash from Railroad Cave in Pulaski County.  With so many photographers in the cave, of course, lots of photos were taken.

On July 11^th, Eric Hertzler and Melvin Johnson hosted and guided a group of students through Tumbling Creek Cave of Taney Conty in an educational field trip.

During the 12^th and 16^th, Jon Beard, Zach Copeland and Charley Reg guided groups of Summerscape students through Breakdown Cave of Christian County in educational field trips.  Then on the 20^th, Jon and Zach led Troop 7 Topeka, KS boy scouts in a guided trip through Breakdown and Fitzpatrick Caves.  After the groups returned home, Jon, Zach and Charley did some exploring and photography of seldom seen upper levels in both caves.

On the 14^th and 15^th, Jon Beard, Jason Hardinger and Jack Rosenkoetter began the ONSR Restoration Project by reattaching a total of 53 speleothems using various 2-part epoxies.  All of these repaired speleothems were found in a 50-foot section of Bluff Cave in Shannon County.  More restoration is needed in this cave, but what a difference a weekend can make!

Roy Gold and Charley Young did a photo trip to Eden Falls and Bat Cave in Newton County, Arkansas on July 17^th.  Both Roy and Charley are accomplished photographers who spend much of their time underground with their cameras.

On the weekend of July 21^st and 22^nd, Jon Beard, Jason Hardinger, Bill and Bonnie Heim, Lloyd Morrison, Charley Rey and friend Anita Baughman floated the Meramec River to Green Cave in Washington County where the group photographed the cave and removed most of the graffiti they could find in this 2,000-foot cave.  Later, Jon, Jason, Bill, Lloyd and Charley traveled entrance to entrance in Camp Cave in Franklin County, photographing speleothems and entrances.  On Sunday, the group visited Sheep Cave’s 950 feet for photographs, then the group visited Lone Hill Onyx Cave for even more photos.

During the week of July 23^rd through 27^th, Roy Gold, Jack Rosenkoetter and Bob Taylor participated in the NSS Convention in Indiana.  On the first 3 days, they visited Marengo, Wyandotte and Doghill-Donahue caves.