The NSS began over eighty years ago as a collective of individuals interested in caves and caving. From the beginning, we recognized the need to protect the fragile and timeless environment, both above and underground. Conservation has always been a prime tenet of the NSS's foundations.

Today we fufill that mission by managing 19 preserves. These unique underground places are protected for future generations.

Each preserve has it's own management plan that lays out policies and access for recreation or scientific research.