A Grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society (NSS). They generally function as the local NSS chapter/club. Many Grottos however, operate in areas outside of their local area, with many operating in several states.[1] Most Grottos also participate in Regions which are loose associations of Grottos.[1] Regions are also an internal organization of the National Speleological Society.[1]
Organization edit
Grottos are required to meet certain organizational requirements as outlined by the National Speleological Society. These include:[2]
- A constitution and bylaws that are submitted to, and approved by, the NSS
- A minimum of at least five members of the Society
- It is NSS policy that full membership in a Grotto requires NSS membership. However, in practice, this is often not the case.
An annual report describing various aspects of the Grotto is submitted to the NSS.
History edit
The New England Grotto was the first NSS Grotto. It was chartered in 1941 with Clay Perry as president and Ned Anderson as vice-president.[3]
Grottos of the NSS edit
Below are the Grottos of the NSS as listed in February 2024.[4]
Alabama edit
- Birmingham Grotto
- Central Alabama Grotto
- Cullman Grotto
- Gadsden Grotto
- Huntsville Grotto
- Jackson County Grotto
- Montgomery Grotto
- RAT Grotto
Alaska edit
- Glacier Grotto
Arizona edit
- Central Arizona Grotto
- Cochise County Cavers
- Escabrosa Grotto
- Mule Mountain Caving Club
- Northern Arizona Grotto
- Southern Arizona Grotto
Arkansas edit
- Boston Mountain Grotto
- Central Region Arkansas Grotto
- COBRA Grotto
- Little Rock Grotto[5][dead link]
- Middle Ozark Lower Earth Society MOLES
California edit
- Desert Dog Troglodytes
- Diablo Grotto
- Mother Lode Grotto
- San Diego Grotto
- San Francisco Bay Chapter of the NSS
- San Joaquin Valley
- Shascade Caving Society
- Shasta Area Grotto
- Southern California Grotto
- Stanislaus Speleology Association
- Waldo Brothers Grotto
Colorado edit
- Colorado Grotto
- Colorado Western Slope Grotto
- Front Range Grotto
- Northern Colorado Grotto
- Red Canyon Grotto
- Southern Colorado Mountain
- Timberline Grotto
Connecticut edit
- Central Connecticut Grotto
Delaware edit
- Commander Cody Caving Club
District of Columbia edit
- District of Columbia Grotto
Florida edit
- Central Florida Grotto
- Flint River Grotto
- Florida Speleological Society
- River City Grotto
- Tampa Bay Area Grotto
Georgia edit
- Athens Speleological Society
- Augusta Cave Masters
- Clayton County Cavers
- Clock Tower Grotto
- Dogwood City Grotto
- Middle Georgia Grotto
- Pigeon Mountain Grotto
- Team Poseidon
Hawaii edit
- Hawai'i Grotto
Idaho edit
- Gem State Grotto
- Silver Sage Grotto
Illinois edit
- Little Egypt Grotto
- Near Normal Grotto
- Rock River Speleological Society
- Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto
- Windy City Grotto
Indiana edit
- Bloomington Indian Grotto
- Central Indiana Grotto
- Eastern Indiana Grotto
- Evansville Metropolitan Grotto
- Northern Indiana Grotto
- Saint Joseph Valley Grotto
- Western Indiana Grotto
Iowa edit
- Iowa Grotto
Kansas edit
- Kansas City Area Grotto
- Kansas Speleological Society
Kentucky edit
- Blue Grass Grotto
- Green River Grotto
- Louisville Grotto
- Pine Mountain Grotto
- Rockcastle Regional Grotto
Louisiana edit
- Crescent City Cavers
Maine edit
- none based out of Maine
Maryland edit
- Baltimore Grotto
- Frederick Grotto
- Sligo Grotto
- Western Maryland Grotto
Massachusetts edit
- Boston Grotto
Michigan edit
- Detroit Urban Grotto
- Michigan Interlakes Grotto
Minnesota edit
- Minnesota Caving Club
- Minnesota Speleological Society
Mississippi edit
- JUST Cavers
Missouri edit
- Branson Area Tri-Lakes Grotto
- Chouteau Grotto
- Daedalus Cavers Grotto
- Kansas City Area Grotto
- Meramec Valley Grotto
- Middle Mississippi Valley Grotto
- Missouri School of Mines Spelunkers Club
- Ozark Highlands Grotto
- Roubidoux Grotto
- Springfield Plateau Grotto
- Stygian Grotto
Montana edit
- Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto
Nebraska edit
- none based out of Nebraska
Nevada edit
- Northern Nevada Grotto
- Southern Nevada Grotto
New Hampshire edit
- none based out of New Hampshire
New Jersey edit
- Central New Jersey Grotto
- New Jersey Tri-State Speleological Society
- Northern New Jersey Grotto
New Mexico edit
- Mesilla Valley Grotto
- New Mexico Tech Student Grotto
- Parajito Grotto
- Pecos Valley Grotto
- Sandia Grotto
- Sierra Blanca Grotto
- White Sands Grotto
New York edit
- Helderberg-Hudson Grotto
- Met Grotto
- Niagara Frontier Grotto
- Rensselaer Outing Club
- Shawangunk-Catskill Area Grotto
- Syracuse University Outing
North Carolina edit
- Charlotte Caving Club
- Flittermouse Grotto
- Triangle Troglodytes
North Dakota edit
- none based out of North Dakota
Ohio edit
- Central Ohio Grotto
- Cleveland Grotto
- Dayton Underground Grotto
- Greater Cincinnati Grotto
- Miami Valley Grotto
- Ohio Cavers and Climbers
- Standing Stone Grotto
- Wittenberg University Speleological Society
Oklahoma edit
- Arbuckle Mountains Grotto
- Central Oklahoma Grotto
- Tulsa Regional OK Grotto
Oregon edit
- Oregon Grotto
- Oregon High Desert Grotto
- Willamette Valley Grotto
Pennsylvania edit
- Bald Eagle Grotto
- Bucks County Grotto
- Franklin County Grotto
- Greater Allentown Grotto
- Huntingdon County Cave Hunters
- Loyalhanna Grotto
- Nittany Grotto
- Philadelphia Grotto
- Pittsburgh Grotto
- Seven Valleys Grotto
- York Grotto
Rhode Island edit
- none based out of Rhode Island
South Carolina edit
- South Carolina Interstate Grotto
South Dakota edit
- Paha Sapa Grotto
Tennessee edit
- Chattanooga Grotto
- East Tennessee Grotto
- Mountain Empire Grotto
- Nashville Grotto
- Sewanee Mountain Grotto
- Six Ridges Grotto
- Smoky Mountain Grotto
- Southport Chronic Cavers
- Spencer Mountain Grotto
- Upper Cumberland Grotto
Texas edit
- Aggie Speleological Society
- Bexar Grotto
- Dallas-Fort Worth Grotto
- Greater Houston Grotto
- GUAD Grotto
- Lubbock Area Grotto
- Permian Basin Speleological Society
- UT Grotto
Utah edit
- Salt Lake Grotto
- Timpanogos Grotto
- Wasatch Grotto[6]
Vermont edit
- Vermont Cavers Association
Virginia edit
- Battlefield Area Troglodyte Society
- Blue Ridge Grotto
- Charlottesville Grotto
- Fredericksburg Underground Network
- Front Royal Grotto
- James River Grotto
- Madison University Student Grotto
- New River Valley Grotto
- Richmond Area Speleological Society
- Tidewater Grotto
- VPI Cave Club
- Virginia Highlands Grotto
- Walker Mountain Grotto
Washington edit
- Cascade Grotto
West Virginia edit
- Charleston Grotto
- ESSO Grotto
- Germany Valley Grotto
- Greenbrier Grotto
- Monongahela Grotto
- Monroe County Cavers
- Mountain State Grotto
- Parkersburg Area Grotto
- TRA Grotto
- Tri-State Grotto
- West Virginia University Student Grotto
- Western Maryland Grotto
Wisconsin edit
- Great Lakes Cavers
- Wisconsin Speleological Society[7]
Wyoming edit
- Armpit Grotto
- Hole-in-the-Wall Grotto
International edit
- Anthros Costa Rica Grotto
- Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto[8]
Traveling edit
- Gypsy Underground Grotto
- Israeli Caving Club
- Out of Bounds Grotto
- Stonewall Cavers
References edit
- ^ a b c Weberg, Meredith Hall. NSS News Members Manual. National Speleological Society. p. 2, 53–65.
- ^ "Policy for Internal Organizations" (PDF). National Speleological Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-27.
- ^ Caving in America. Huntsville, AL: National Speleological Society. 1991. ISBN 0-9615093-7-6.
- ^ "List of Grottos". caves.org. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "Little Rock Grotto - [LRG] - Arkansas Cavers". caves.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ "Wasatch Grotto | Northern Utah Cavers". Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ "Wisconsin Speleological Society". www.wisconsincaves.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ "Balincaguin Conservancy". www.balincaguinconservancy.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.