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• September NSS HQ Work Day

  • Start
    September 20, 2025
  • End
    September 21, 2025
  • Location
    NSS HQ, 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810

  Come help turn the NSS HQ property into a world class outdoor education facility! Indoor/Outdoor camping available for NSS members- contact the NSS Office for details. 

  "We've got lots going on this coming year! We have new engraved bricks for the celebration patio to place, we are painting the outside of the building, we have some interior demolition to complete, we are building a Fine Arts Salon showcase, we have some old trees to remove and lots of invasive plants to attack, just to mention a few tasks on the agenda. If your grotto would like to schedule a work weekend at a time not on the schedule, get in touch with me and we will schedule something. If each SERA grotto came for just one day a year, we can get so much done! We have installed new gutters and started painting the outside of the building this past year. There is always lots to do down here! " - Maureen Handler, NSS Facilities Division Chief.

  Local caving options are available! The William J Stephenson Preserve, Shelta Cave Preserve, multiple LTNA properties, and private and public land caves. Please obtain permission before entering any cave. 

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• Campout Meeting - @ Champion Spring, AL

  • Start
    September 26, 2025
  •  
    5:00 AM
  • End
    September 28, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Champion Spring, AL
  • Registered
    26 registrants

  Register

  Join us for our September campout meeting of 2025! 

  Register for directions and more details!
  
  Friday and Saturday camping will be available, and the grotto meeting is Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. EST. 

  Saturday Night Presentation

  Dane Garreau will be presenting on the exploration and discoverys made in Deer Skull cave. This is one of Alabama's newest mile-long caves and is up the road from the campout!

  About the 'Champion Spring' Camping Location

  The Champion Spring Campout is located on public WMA land (Wildlife Management Area). WMA land primarily is used by hunters and is free to be on for anyone. Most information online is for hunters. Here is some information about the area: 
  
  https://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/default/files/Wildlife/wildlife-management-areas/2023-2024/2023-2024%20-%20D2-James%20D.%20Martin-Skyline-ss.pdf
  
  While we visit, please follow these rules (which should apply ANYWHERE you camp!) 

  *Please go well away from camp or water sources to do personal business. ALWAYS bury your business, or better yet, put it in a bag and take it with you. 

  *Expect to have no service while in the area, so please be sure to tell your loved ones not to hear from you until Sunday night or whenever you plan on leaving.

  *Please only burn fires inside fire-rings. 

  *Please take ALL garbage with you. 

  *This is primitive camping. There is no water or electricity.

  *Please be space-efficient and be mindful not to block the roads.

  *The road in is rougher than normal roads. Expect to be driving over Small to medium sized cobbles and to encounter potholes. Clearance is nice to have, but not required. Unless there is rain, there is no driving through any water.
  
  Stevenson, AL is the closest town if you need to re-stock any food or camping supplies.

  Things to do: 

  There are many many MANY amazing caves in this area. Some include Thndrhle, Blndrhle, DerSkul, LcyPt, BlfRvr, MndyPt.
  
  And there is so much Public land nearby that is a joy to explore and hike on! There is some private land too, so be sure to use the map above to be sure you don't accidentally trespass. 
  
  If you have specific questions or want more information on caves in the area. please reach out to us by emailing ec@dogwoodcitygrotto.org

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• Beginner / Intermediate Vertical to Holiday Hole & Mandy's

  • When
    September 27, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Champion Spring Campout
  • Registered
    10 registrants

  Register

  These are two beautiful and beginner friendly 100' plus pits that are close together and we will try to hit both if time allows.  Plan to leave the Champion Spring campout location at 9:00 eastern (8:00 central) and carpool to Holiday Hole.  4X4 is required so if you are driving a prius like vehicle (not judging) please plan to ride with someone else.  I will be able to take at least four with me and maybe more.  These pits are fairly substantial in depth but straightforward in the rigging (no rebelays).  The ability to do a changeover from rappel to ascending and vice versa on rope is always considered essential for any vertical trip.

  If the group size gets too big, we will likely split in two and go to both pits simultaneously.

  If you have any questions, please text me (Joel) at 678-983-9516.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

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• Members Meeting - Virtual

  • When
    October 06, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  Register

  Join us for our October regular meeting of 2025, held virtually via Zoom.
  
  A presenter is TBD.

  You don't want to miss this presentation.
  Be sure to register to receive the zoom information!
  

  Show details
• October NSS HQ Work Day

  • Start
    October 18, 2025
  • End
    October 19, 2025
  • Location
    NSS HQ, 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810

  Come help turn the NSS HQ property into a world class outdoor education facility! Indoor/Outdoor camping available for NSS members- contact the NSS Office for details. 

  "We've got lots going on this coming year! We have new engraved bricks for the celebration patio to place, we are painting the outside of the building, we have some interior demolition to complete, we are building a Fine Arts Salon showcase, we have some old trees to remove and lots of invasive plants to attack, just to mention a few tasks on the agenda. If your grotto would like to schedule a work weekend at a time not on the schedule, get in touch with me and we will schedule something. If each SERA grotto came for just one day a year, we can get so much done! We have installed new gutters and started painting the outside of the building this past year. There is always lots to do down here! " - Maureen Handler, NSS Facilities Division Chief.

  Local caving options are available! The William J Stephenson Preserve, Shelta Cave Preserve, multiple LTNA properties, and private and public land caves. Please obtain permission before entering any cave. 

  Show details
• Members Meeting - Campout @ Billygoat Point GA

  • Start
    November 07, 2025
  •  
    5:00 AM
  • End
    November 09, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Billygoat Point: 1325 Sunset Dr. Rising Fawn, GA 30738 (Read the description)
  • Registered
    16 registrants

  Register

  Join us for our November campout meeting of 2025! 

  Friday and Saturday camping will be available, and the grotto meeting is Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. EST. 

  Saturday Night Presentation

  Anna Pearce will be presenting on finding and discovering new caves in TAG!

  About Billygoat Point

  Billygoat Point is a privately owned campsite with a fantastic 270 degree view of the Lookout Valley and Johnson's Crook that easily rivals nearby Cloudland Canyon. We are camping here by special arrangement, because the DCG has been respectful users of the area for many years. While we visit, please follow these rules (which should apply ANYWHERE you camp!) 

  *Please go well away from camp or water sources to do personal business. ALWAYS bury your business, or better yet, put it in a bag and take it with you. 

  *Please only burn a fire in the central fire-ring. 

  *Please take ALL garbage with you. 

  *This is primitive camping. There is no water or electricity. 

  *Please be space-efficient - there will be around 45 of us, so if you're tent camping, please park back along the road and walk a short distance in to set up. 

  *Please leave room for those who are camping in their vehicles if you are not. (Insider tip: there are some nice sleeping opportunities for those with hammocks)

  Things to do: 

  Right on site, you can spend hours gazing at the views. You can also top rope rock-climb and rappel the surrounding cliffs, which vary between 30' to 85' feet. If caving is what you are after, we are very close to Johnson's Crook, so there is easy access to those caves and pits. It is also very close to the SCCi's Fox Mountain, H. Waterfall, and Stwd. Springs preserves. Be aware that you will need a permit for any of those, so you should go ahead and get one now. Also, Pigeon Mountain is neaby, which includes Andersn Spg. and EXCELLENT hiking to Rocktown and The Pocket. More hiking nearby: Cloudland Canyon, Sitton's Gulch, and the Zahnd Natural area (another Rocktown bouldering type area), and Lula Lake Land Trust (which requires a permit and is only available for visiting on weekends). All of these have great hikes to nice views including waterfalls and overlooks. 

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• November NSS HQ Work Day

  • Start
    November 15, 2025
  • End
    November 16, 2025
  • Location
    NSS HQ, 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810

  Come help turn the NSS HQ property into a world class outdoor education facility! Indoor/Outdoor camping available for NSS members- contact the NSS Office for details. 

  "We've got lots going on this coming year! We have new engraved bricks for the celebration patio to place, we are painting the outside of the building, we have some interior demolition to complete, we are building a Fine Arts Salon showcase, we have some old trees to remove and lots of invasive plants to attack, just to mention a few tasks on the agenda. If your grotto would like to schedule a work weekend at a time not on the schedule, get in touch with me and we will schedule something. If each SERA grotto came for just one day a year, we can get so much done! We have installed new gutters and started painting the outside of the building this past year. There is always lots to do down here! " - Maureen Handler, NSS Facilities Division Chief.

  Local caving options are available! The William J Stephenson Preserve, Shelta Cave Preserve, multiple LTNA properties, and private and public land caves. Please obtain permission before entering any cave. 

  Show details
• Members Meeting - Virtual

  • When
    December 01, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  Register

  Join us for our December regular meeting of 2025, held virtually via Zoom.
  
  A presenter is TBD.

  You don't want to miss this presentation.
  Be sure to register to receive the zoom information!
  

  Show details
• December NSS HQ Work Day

  • Start
    December 06, 2025
  • End
    December 07, 2025
  • Location
    NSS HQ, 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810

  Come help turn the NSS HQ property into a world class outdoor education facility! Indoor/Outdoor camping available for NSS members- contact the NSS Office for details. 

  "We've got lots going on this coming year! We have new engraved bricks for the celebration patio to place, we are painting the outside of the building, we have some interior demolition to complete, we are building a Fine Arts Salon showcase, we have some old trees to remove and lots of invasive plants to attack, just to mention a few tasks on the agenda. If your grotto would like to schedule a work weekend at a time not on the schedule, get in touch with me and we will schedule something. If each SERA grotto came for just one day a year, we can get so much done! We have installed new gutters and started painting the outside of the building this past year. There is always lots to do down here! " - Maureen Handler, NSS Facilities Division Chief.

  Local caving options are available! The William J Stephenson Preserve, Shelta Cave Preserve, multiple LTNA properties, and private and public land caves. Please obtain permission before entering any cave. 

  Show details
• Regular Meeting - Elections

  • When
    January 06, 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual - Zoom

  Registration is closed

  It is once again time for grotto officer elections. With this being an official business meeting with voting taking place it is very important that at least 20 Full Members be present. The majority of this meeting will be the nomination and voting process which is all being done digitally this year. We need three Inspectors of elections. Let us know if you can help out. It would be appreciated.

  If you are a full member of the Grotto, please have access to your email throughout the meeting for voting and reach out with any questions ahead of time. Make sure that your Dogwood City Grotto account says Full member and not Associate or any other before the meeting.

  Members and guests are all welcome to attend this meeting! Please reach out to a member of the Board of Directors with any questions you may have.

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• NSS HQ Work Weekend, Camping, and Caving Weekend

  • Start
    January 16, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    January 18, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  Join us for a weekend of  volunteer work, caving, camping at the National Speleological Society Headquarters in Huntsville Alabama.
  
  Camping is free for NSS members and we will be able to camp indoors and out of the cold. Inside camping is just a large room so bring a cot or sleeping pad and your sleeping things (And maybe ear plugs!)
  
  Camping will be available Friday and Saturday night. We will be doing work on the Headquarters on Saturday. The type of work depends on the weather and needs of the NSS. After work, there are caves on site and many amazing caves within 30 mins of the HQ. Caving typically occurs Saturday evening and Sunday.
  
  If you have any questions, please email ec@dogwoodcitygrotto.org
  
  Thanks!

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