Hoffman Environmental Research Institute through its Center for Cave and Karst Studies and in cooperation with Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning, and Western Kentucky University, offers a series of week-long field classes focusing on cave and karst science, and caving. Though some of the classes do require previous subject knowledge, others are designed for individuals who are purely interested in caves and caving. Classes can be taken for academic credit (undergraduate and graduate), for continuing education credits (CEU), or as non-credit workshops.

A workshop on Dye Tracing Princples and Practices will be offered August 12-14, 2010 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Instructors will be Dr. Nicholas Crawford and Mr. Joeseph Ray. For more information contact the Center for Cave and Karst Studies

Following is a list of Karst Field Study classes offered for 2010:

Class Dates Description
Cave Ecology June 6-12, 2010 Instructors: Dr. Horton Hobbs III & Rick Olson, Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Caves and other subterranean voids are unique in that they lack light and, therefore, most are not capable of producing food. Consequently, these dark, energy-poor,extreme environments impose a suite of restrictions on organisms as well as on the evolution of caveadapted organisms. We shall examine the influence of the productive surface world on the dark, consumptive cave environment. Morning sessions will be interactive lectures and afternoons and most evenings will be spent in the field, observing surface and subsurface ecosystems of the Mammoth Cave System. Small group miniprojects will be conducted utilizing the scientific method to test hypotheses related to the ecology of caves. A ‘symposium’ concerning the miniprojects will be presented at the end of the week. Participants should be in good physical condition and prepared for strenuous activity above and below ground throughout the week. Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop

Speleology June 6-12, 2010 Instructor: Mr. Roger Brucker, Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Not just an introductory caving course, Speleology delves into the basics of cave science that lead to insight and understanding essential in making discoveries. It is an experience in which extensive cave trips tie together hydrology,geology, biology, and ecology by the use of discovery techniques such as exploration and cave surveying. These tools and techniques such as used by the Cave Research Foundation in the exploration of the world’s longest cave, allow participants to understand caves anywhere and to make significant discoveries of their own. Field trips are strenuous, involving long trips into rarely visited portions of the cave system, including making connections between caves as described in The Longest Cave. Participants should be in good physical condition and prepared for strenuous activity above and below ground throughout the week. Registration: Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Exploration of
Mammoth Cave June 13-19, 2010 Instructor: Dr. Stanley D. Sides, Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
This course is an intensive study of the discovery, exploration and development of the caves and karst features of the Mammoth Cave region that resulted in integration of the caves into the world’s longest cave system. The forces that stimulated exploration, such as saltpeter mining, regional commercialization of show caves, national park development, and scientific research are examined. Illustrated lectures, handouts, and maps are used to promote understanding of the caves prior to daily field trips. This year the course will emphasize recent research on the history of the many regional show caves that competed with Mammoth Cave after the end of the Civil War. Usually the class repeats of the connection routes made by previous explorers between one entrance and another in Mammoth Cave. Participants must be in good physical condition. Many underground trips follow tourist trails closed long ago to the public, while other trips require strenuous walking and crawling in undeveloped passages on trips lasting 6 to 8 hours. Registration: Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Karst Geomorphology June 13-19, 2010 Instructors: Dr. Chris Groves & Dr. Jason Polk, Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
This course will be an intensive study of karst landscapes and will emphasize current thinking on the processes at work shaping them.We are fortunate to have as our laboratory one of the great karst landscapes of the world, and we will, therefore, be in a unique position to gain a deep appreciation of these fantastic landscapes through a combination of field and classroom study. The new view of the landscape provided by such a study can be profoundly enriching, and indeed enhance the karst experience. Because caves are a major element of the karst landscapes, both in terms of process and of form, their origin and morphology will be a major emphasis. Accordingly, we will spend a significant part of the week underground in the Mammoth Cave System as well as other caves. At least one previous course in geology is required, although appropriate concepts will be reviewed. The course will involve strenuous cave trips and hiking; therefore, participants must be in excellent physical condition. Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Theory and Application
of Karst Hydrology June 14-18, 2010 Instructors: Dr. William White & Dr. Nicholas Crawford, Class location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
The hydrology of karst terrains is taught from the perspective of integrated drainage basins. Discussion addresses karst landscapes,the hydrogeology of karst aquifers, caves and their importance as records of paleohydrology, karst water chemistry and its use in the analysis of flow systems, water balance, and the physical environmental problems in karst. The course deals with groundwater monitoring techniques, groundwater tracers, and the movement of contaminants through karst aquifers. Field exercises include qualitative and quantitative dye trace tests, and as techniques for locating caves for drilling monitoring wells in karst aquifers. A primary objective of this course is to provide ‘state-of-the-practice’ instruction and hands-on experience for dealing with groundwater problems of karst regions. Most participants in this course are professional geologists and engineers employed by environmental consulting firms or government agencies who take the course as a workshop. Undergraduate and graduate students may also take the course for credit. Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Field Methods
for karst studies
Cave surveys &
inventory June 20-26, 2010 Instructor: Patricia Kambesis, Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Cave maps and inventories are fundamental to the understanding of cave and karst environments. This course will focus on in-cave data collection (with an emphasis on sketching), cave resource inventories, constructing survey data/inventory databases, creating maps and transforming the data maps into GIS format. Techniques for collecting cave survey and inventory databases will be examined with emphasis on obtaining the most useful data in the field. Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Cave Archeology June 20-25, 2010 Instructor: , Dr. George Crothers Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
This course provides an introduction to the archaeology of caves from a broad perspective. The history of cave research in eastern North America is outlined. Archaeological evidence of prehistoric and historic utilization of caves is highlighted, focusing on research in the Mammoth Cave region related to cave exploration, mineral mining, mortuary use, and the preservation of perishable remains in unique cave environments. The role of caves within the broader context of surface archaeology and cultural systems is considered. Emphasis is placed on field methods in cave archaeology, including mapping, surface collection, excavation, and formation processes. Class materials are delivered using multimedia presentations, field trips, and field exercises. Field trips will include visiting portions of the cave that are accessible by developed trail and others that will be off trail in sections closed to the public. We will also be visiting several archaeological sites on the surface. All trips above and below ground will involve hiking and the off trail cave trips will be particularly strenuous requiring crawling and climbing over rocks. Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Cave and Karst
Management: West June 21-26, 2010 Instructor: Jim Goodbar, Class location: Carlsbad, New Mexico
Where’s, and Why’s of Making the Best of Conflicting Land Use Situations. The course is a down to earth, inside look at cave and karst land management issues and how to set up a program to manage them. It will focus on the essentials of cave and karst resources management with an emphasis on; The Laws that govern management actions, Using cave inventories to identify significant caves, Developing cave and karst related land use planning,Developing specific resource protection strategies using administrative, physical, and regulatory means, Developing Resource Monitoring Programs, Cave Permitting Systems for Recreational and Scientific Research, Developing Partnerships and Agreements, Resource Restoration. There will be at least one full day field trip to apply some of the conceptual class work. The class notebook will include examples of many of the documents, and management plans covered in the course in digital format.Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop.

Cave and Karst
Resource Management: East July 25-31, 2010 Instructors:Dr. Rick Toomey and Mr. Joel Despain, Class location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Cave and Karst Management for Park, Forest and Preserve Managers This intensive course includes practical and handson instruction in cave management practices. Topics covered include state and federal cave laws, cave management plans, WhiteNose Syndrome, managing volunteers, cave gates, cave inventories and monitoring, cave restoration, cave survey and new cave discoveries, cave scientists and the manager, recreational cavers and much more. The class is designed for state and federal land managers, private preserve managers, and members of cave conservancies. The class will include multiple field trips to examine relevant topics in context. Registration: Graduate, Undergraduate, or Workshop

http://caveandkarst.wku.edu/summerclasses.html

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