Grotto (National Speleological Society)

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 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

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

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

Below are the Grottos of the NSS as listed in February 2024.^[4]

Alabama

Birmingham Grotto
Central Alabama Grotto
Cullman Grotto
Gadsden Grotto
Huntsville Grotto
Jackson County Grotto
Montgomery Grotto
RAT Grotto

Alaska

Glacier Grotto

Arizona

Central Arizona Grotto
Cochise County Cavers
Escabrosa Grotto
Mule Mountain Caving Club
Northern Arizona Grotto
Southern Arizona Grotto

Arkansas

Boston Mountain Grotto
Central Region Arkansas Grotto
COBRA Grotto
Little Rock Grotto^[5]^{[dead link]}
Middle Ozark Lower Earth Society MOLES

California

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

Colorado Grotto
Colorado Western Slope Grotto
Front Range Grotto
Northern Colorado Grotto
Red Canyon Grotto
Southern Colorado Mountain
Timberline Grotto

Connecticut

Central Connecticut Grotto

Delaware

Commander Cody Caving Club

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Grotto

Florida

Central Florida Grotto
Flint River Grotto
Florida Speleological Society
River City Grotto
Tampa Bay Area Grotto

Georgia

Athens Speleological Society
Augusta Cave Masters
Clayton County Cavers
Clock Tower Grotto
Dogwood City Grotto
Middle Georgia Grotto
Pigeon Mountain Grotto
Team Poseidon

Hawaii

Hawai'i Grotto

Idaho

Gem State Grotto
Silver Sage Grotto

Illinois

Little Egypt Grotto
Near Normal Grotto
Rock River Speleological Society
Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto
Windy City Grotto

Indiana

Bloomington Indian Grotto
Central Indiana Grotto
Eastern Indiana Grotto
Evansville Metropolitan Grotto
Northern Indiana Grotto
Saint Joseph Valley Grotto
Western Indiana Grotto

Iowa

Iowa Grotto

Kansas

Kansas City Area Grotto
Kansas Speleological Society

Kentucky

Blue Grass Grotto
Green River Grotto
Louisville Grotto
Pine Mountain Grotto
Rockcastle Regional Grotto

Louisiana

Crescent City Cavers

Maine

none based out of Maine

Maryland

Baltimore Grotto
Frederick Grotto
Sligo Grotto
Western Maryland Grotto

Massachusetts

Boston Grotto

Michigan

Detroit Urban Grotto
Michigan Interlakes Grotto

Minnesota

Minnesota Caving Club
Minnesota Speleological Society

Mississippi

JUST Cavers

Missouri

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

Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto

Nebraska

none based out of Nebraska

Nevada

Northern Nevada Grotto
Southern Nevada Grotto

New Hampshire

none based out of New Hampshire

New Jersey

Central New Jersey Grotto
New Jersey Tri-State Speleological Society
Northern New Jersey Grotto

New Mexico

Mesilla Valley Grotto
New Mexico Tech Student Grotto
Parajito Grotto
Pecos Valley Grotto
Sandia Grotto
Sierra Blanca Grotto
White Sands Grotto

New York

Helderberg-Hudson Grotto
Met Grotto
Niagara Frontier Grotto
Rensselaer Outing Club
Shawangunk-Catskill Area Grotto
Syracuse University Outing

North Carolina

Charlotte Caving Club
Flittermouse Grotto
Triangle Troglodytes

North Dakota

none based out of North Dakota

Ohio

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

Arbuckle Mountains Grotto
Central Oklahoma Grotto
Tulsa Regional OK Grotto

Oregon

Oregon Grotto
Oregon High Desert Grotto
Willamette Valley Grotto

Pennsylvania

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

none based out of Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Carolina Interstate Grotto

South Dakota

Paha Sapa Grotto

Tennessee

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

Aggie Speleological Society
Bexar Grotto
Dallas-Fort Worth Grotto
Greater Houston Grotto
GUAD Grotto
Lubbock Area Grotto
Permian Basin Speleological Society
UT Grotto

Utah

Salt Lake Grotto
Timpanogos Grotto
Wasatch Grotto^[6]

Vermont

Vermont Cavers Association

Virginia

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

Cascade Grotto

West Virginia

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

Great Lakes Cavers
Wisconsin Speleological Society^[7]

Wyoming

Armpit Grotto
Hole-in-the-Wall Grotto

International

Anthros Costa Rica Grotto
Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto^[8]

Traveling

Gypsy Underground Grotto
Israeli Caving Club
Out of Bounds Grotto
Stonewall Cavers

References

^ ^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.

External links

[MEMBERS_MANUAL-1] Weberg, Meredith Hall. NSS News Members Manual. National Speleological Society. p. 2, 53–65.

[2] "Policy for Internal Organizations" (PDF). National Speleological Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-27.

[3] Caving in America. Huntsville, AL: National Speleological Society. 1991. ISBN 0-9615093-7-6.

[4] "List of Grottos". caves.org. Retrieved 2024-02-12.

[5] "Little Rock Grotto – [LRG] – Arkansas Cavers". caves.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.

[6] "Wasatch Grotto | Northern Utah Cavers". Retrieved 2021-07-30.

[7] "Wisconsin Speleological Society". www.wisconsincaves.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.

[8] "Balincaguin Conservancy". www.balincaguinconservancy.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.

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