Youth Opportunities Underground
YOUCave
Stimulate Curiosity, Build Confidence, Develop Leadership, Forge Comradery
Let us plug our resources into your program.
YOU Cave is a nonprofit corporation providing a cave-exploring program for youth groups and youth organizations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Cave exploring brings out the best in youth. Cave Exploring is a tool we use to stimulate curiosity, promote self-confidence, grow camaraderie as a team in a social environment, develop leadership skills, teach environmental awareness, and promote physical fitness.
Products, Programs or Services
Guided Trips
YOUCave provides and leads cave exploring trips for all youth groups and youth organizations. We help the group leaders with planning the trip by providing and stepping through all the information they need. We provide learning opportunities for the youth to learn what they will see, what they will expect; and how to be safe in a cave. We provide specialized safety equipment to keep the cost down. We guide them in the selection of location. We abide by the youth organization’s rules and guidelines pertaining to this activity. We also follow major cave exploring groups’ general safety practices. However, the trips are the program of the youth group or youth organization.
Talks
Talks about caves, cave exploring, and youth experiences with cave exploring for any group or organization that is interested in this topic. Including, but not limited to, libraries, Lions’ Club, Rotary Club, High Schools, and Universities. We can also provide interactive learning experience to most age groups from kindergarten through college.
Events
Many youth groups, youth organizations, caving and other nature and conservation organizations, and community organizations hold events, summits, and conventions. Participating in these as YOUCave or a member of the organizations promoting safe and ethical caving practices is important. This gets our name out to the public. More importantly it gets our mission out to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you go cave exploring?
There are some good “beginner” caves near Shippensburg, PA. They are wild caves. No paths and no lights. I get permission to enter each time. The one I prefer for a beginner trip is a “maze cave”. Many passages circle around a few different rooms for about 2400 feet of passage. No ropes are needed. There are big rocks you can climb over and small passages that you can squeeze through, if that’s your thing.
How long is the trip?
Each trip depends on the group. There is no set path or schedule. Generally we would be underground for two hours. Then the adult leaders would consider if they feel the group has had enough and exit, or continue on for another hour or so.
What size group is best?
The ideal is anywhere from 6 to 16 people. If you have a different number in your group, we can figure out a plan to get everyone underground who wants to go cave exploring.
What equipment is provided and what is needed?
The “Hold Harless Agreement” has a detailed list. I provide a UIAA climbing helmet and two mounted headlamps with batteries. I have kneepads, gloves, and coveralls to rent for the day.
How do I book a cave exploring trip?
Just send an email to AllenMaddox@YOUCave.org and let me know when would be good for you. We can start from there and plan a fun adventure for your group.