Youth group Caving is important to me for many reasons. For starters it is what got me into caving. I was already into rappelling thru the boy scouts and fell in love with it. I then joined a church group and they said they were going to rappell into a cave. I said sign me up not knowing what to expect, I just wanted to rappel. When we had got to the cave I was so excited and couldn't Waite (plus the 8 hr ride was cramped and miserable). Armed with our Bike Helmets and Head Light, and two other flashlights we rappelled into the 60 ft pit. (I look at pictures of that trip and shake my head and roll my eyes.)
I didn't know any better I was a youth being led. But back to the story. I was so aw struck by the beauty of the underground world. The toothy Stalactites and stalagmites. and the Huge Column in the back room I knew I was going to do this for life. I must say if it wasn't for that trip I would not be a caver. After that trip I researched caving and boy it was a whole different story. I found out that we shouldn't have had bike helmets but caving helmets. And that there is a Group of people who cave all the time (GROTTO'S). So I head out and got me a little job, I was 14 at the time so mowing lawns I am sure paints the picture, and bought my own caving Gear, and lucky me I had gotten a Erin Roc for Christmas.
. at the age of 14 I spent $300.00 on gear so I guess you can say I wanted to do this right. I mean shoot I could have spent that money on Video games, but here is something better than video games. I joined the Local grotto and now I am Taking youth into caves, and teaching them the right way. The way I was never taught. Like many others said the faces of the kids when they see a cave. Money can't By that happiness. Now I am 22 and still caving (And Spending money on Gear
) my wife can vouch for that. I am not good at writing stuff like this but I couldn't pass it up. this is a great thread.