Caves and Karst Education – Springfield Plateau Grotto

Nixa HS Students-Breakdown Trip — Nixa high school students (and SPG member Jon Beard in orange helmet) after a trip through Breakdown Cave. Photo: Whitney Rapp, teacher.

Focusing on Caves and Karst Resources

At the Springfield Plateau Grotto, we believe it is important to promote an understanding of caves and karst resources and its connection with ground water quality.

Our grotto’s caves and karst education efforts involve a variety of public outreach programs. We give caves and karst related presentations at schools, libraries and other venues and provide guided cave trips for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, high school and college students. Here is a video with clips from a Breakdown Cave trip on April 18, 2015.

SPG members also write educational materials related to cave biology, ecology and conservation, restoration, formation, management, gating and mapping.

Click on a link below to read any of the following articles dealing with caves and karst:

Why Research Caves? (PDF)

How to Remove Calcified Muddy Prints (PDF)

How to Reattach Stalagmites (PDF)

How to Reattach Stalactites (PDF)

How to Mark a Trail in a Cave (PDF)

Caring for Your Karst (PDF)