Studying, exploring, and protecting caves

Since 1941 the NSS has been at the forefront of cave science, conservation, and exploration. Join our 8,500+ member community and come caving.

Lechuguilla Expedition Frost - Stephen Eginoire

📷 Stephen Eginoire

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Join us in Cobleskill!

The 2025 NSS Convention—Our annual week long event—is in Cobleskill, New York this year. Make sure to register by April 15th, 2025 to get early pricing. NSS Convention is the best opportunity every year to meet cavers, learn about caves, and get underground.

Latest news

A Historic First: The NSS Announces Its Inaugural Executive Director

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Meet the Cave Shrimp: 2025 USA Cave Animal of the Year

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Optimizing The Frog System For Rescue: Rescuers’ Perspectives

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2025 NSS Director Candidate’s Statements

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Upcoming NSS Webinar Series

A cave with a hole in the roof and a beautiful lake

NSS and US Forest Service Unite to Protect and Manage Cave and Karst Resources

Guads Peak Sunset - Peter Jones

Execution of Master Participating Agreement between USDA Forest Service andthe National Speleological Society

May 2024 President’s Column: NSS Restructuring

Vertical Tower Graphic - Andrés Salazar

Help Us Build a Vertical Tower!

Crystal tip Stal - Peter Jones

Congratulations to our 2024 NSS Directors!

Huatla 📷 Steve Eginoire

Come Caving With Us!

Our 250 local chapters - known as Grottos - provide the perfect opportunity to start caving. Find your Grotto and start caving.

Upcoming events

May

2

SERA Cave Carnival 2025

Jamestown, TN/ East Tennessee Grotto

May

5

Vertical Training Commission Level 1: Basic Vertical Techniques

Circleville, WV/

May

9

Spring VAR 2025

Circleville, WV/

May

12

Board of Governors’ Meeting(5/12/25)

May

21

NSS Webinar: Introduction to the Features of the Cavway X1 Paperless Cave Surveying Tool

May

23

Speleofest 2025 (Ye Olde Speleofair)

Bonnieville, KY/ Louisville Grotto

View All Events

Lake Castrolova 📷 Steve Eginoire

Lake Castrolova 📷 Steve Eginoire

join nss

With over 8,000 Members the NSS is the largest caving focused membership organization in the world. Find out why you belong.

Support

Donations to the NSS help support programs advancing cave science, preservation, exploration, and education. Find out how you can help.

Get Involved

The heart and soul of the NSS is our volunteers. Find out how you can get involved and help promote caving science, exploration and preservation.