Inside the 2025 NSS Convention: Highlights from Cobleskill
The 2025 NSS Convention has come to a close — and what a week it was! Held June 21–28 in Cobleskill, New York, the convention brought together hundreds of cavers from across the country (and across the pond) to celebrate the science, art, history and joy of caving.
Returning to SUNY Cobleskill for the first time since 1991, this year’s convention expanded to include the Sunshine Fairgrounds as the hub for social events and evening gatherings.
The week featured daily cave trips, educational sessions, hands-on workshops, and opportunities to meet with fellow cavers.
Highlights from the Week
From geology to biology and from cave mapping to rescue, the college campus buzzed with expert talks, workshops, cave trips, and various demonstrations. There were far too many to list in full here, but the following offers a small snapshot of the breadth of activity that took place throughout the week.
Tuesday night’s featured speaker, internationally acclaimed cave photographer Robbie Shone, took the stage to share stories and images from his expeditions deep underground. Later, Luminary speakers shared stories and perspectives from decades of exploration and service to the NSS. Lectures included conservation efforts highlighting new bat photography guidelines developed in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as minimum-impact cave restoration techniques, focusing on graffiti assessment, speleothem repair, and the protection of cultural and natural resources.
Outside the classrooms, cavers browsed gear and art at the Caver Co-Op and vendor area in Bouck Hall, while conservation groups and cave organizations set up nearby.
The Junior Speleological Society (JSS) offered youth a packed schedule of fossil hunting, hiking, cave exploration, and interactive learning with experts.
Social events—including the Monday Howdy Party and Friday Banquet—gave attendees a chance to reconnect and celebrate the caving community.
This year also marked the 100th anniversary of the Floyd Collins tragedy, remembered in both formal and informal ways throughout the week.
A special thank you
The NSS is powered by volunteers —people who give their time, skills, and heart to keep the Society running and make events like this a success. Planning a national convention takes months (and often years) of behind-the-scenes work. From fielding registrations and booking venues to scouting caves and setting up chairs, volunteers are the backbone of everything we do.
To every person who helped lead a trip, ran a workshop, staffed a table, gave a talk, managed logistics, cleaned up, or kept things running smoothly—we are deeply grateful.
You make the NSS community strong, and your dedication helps preserve and share the underground world we all love.
Miss us this year? No worries. Join us next year for the 2026 NSS Convention in Corydon, Indiana. Save the date: July 6–10, 2026.
Photos by Emily Davis.
