The
National Speleological Society (NSS) is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the
explorationCaving—also known as spelunking in the United States—is the recreational sport of exploring caves. In contrast, speleology is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment.-Overview:...
, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Originally located in Washington D.C., its current offices are in
Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville is a city, centrally located in the northern most part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located in Madison county and extends west into neighboring Limestone county. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison county, and the fourth largest city in Alabama. The 2000 census estimated...
. The organization engages in mapping, cleaning, scientific study, purchase and gating of caves.
The organization is currently divided into 12 regions:
- Arizona Region (sometimes included in the Southwestern Region)
- Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR)
- Mississippi Valley-Ozark Region (MVOR)
- Northeast Regional Organization (NRO)
- Northwest Regional Organization and the Northwest Caving Association (NCA)
- Ohio Valley Region
- Rocky Mountain Region
- Southeastern Regional Association
- Southwestern Region
- Texas Speleological Association
- Virginia Region (VAR)
- Western Region.
Within these regions are local chapters known as
grottosA grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society . They are the lowest level of organization within the NSS. They generally function as the local NSS chapter/club.- Organization :...
.
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The
National Speleological Society (NSS) is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the
explorationCaving—also known as spelunking in the United States—is the recreational sport of exploring caves. In contrast, speleology is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment.-Overview:...
, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Originally located in Washington D.C., its current offices are in
Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville is a city, centrally located in the northern most part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located in Madison county and extends west into neighboring Limestone county. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison county, and the fourth largest city in Alabama. The 2000 census estimated...
. The organization engages in mapping, cleaning, scientific study, purchase and gating of caves.
Organization
The organization is currently divided into 12 regions:
- Arizona Region (sometimes included in the Southwestern Region)
- Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR)
- Mississippi Valley-Ozark Region (MVOR)
- Northeast Regional Organization (NRO)
- Northwest Regional Organization and the Northwest Caving Association (NCA)
- Ohio Valley Region
- Rocky Mountain Region
- Southeastern Regional Association
- Southwestern Region
- Texas Speleological Association
- Virginia Region (VAR)
- Western Region.
Within these regions are local chapters known as
grottosA grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society . They are the lowest level of organization within the NSS. They generally function as the local NSS chapter/club.- Organization :...
. The grottos carry out the local level recreational and conservation-related business of the NSS.
History
The Speleological Society of the District of Columbia (SSDC) was formed on May 6, 1939 by Bill Stephenson. In the fall of 1940, the officers of the SSDC drafted a proposed constitution that would transform the SSDC into the National Speleological Society. On January 24, 1941, Bill Stephenson sent a letter to all members of the SSDC announcing that "on January 1 the Society was reorganized as a national organization."
Publications
The NSS produces a number of publications, including:
External links