Description: Women in the Wilderness: Caving
Location: Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park
Women in the Wilderness is a women-only program designed to inspire confidence and spark interest in outdoor recreation. Whether you’re brand new to the outdoors or looking to build on existing skills, this series brings together women of all backgrounds and experience levels to learn, connect, and grow in a safe and supportive environment.
Join Ranger Codi throughout the year as we explore a variety of outdoor recreation skills. Each month will include a classroom session on the second Tuesday, followed by a hands-on skills day the following Saturday, where you’ll get to practice what you’ve learned.
July Skill: Caving
We will be exploring the underground world of caving! Participants will learn basic cave safety, proper equipment use, and techniques for navigating cave environments. Along the way, we'll discover fascinating cave formations, unique wildlife, and the importance of protecting these fragile underground ecosystems while building confidence and skills in the outdoors.
Classroom Session:
- Tuesday, July 14th at 5:30 PM
- White County Chamber of Commerce (117 E Bockman Wy, Sparta, TN 38583)
- Learn basic cave safety, discuss broadly about the cave, discuss the importance of decontamination
Skills Day:
- Saturday, July 18th at 10:00 AM
- Lost Creek Falls trailhead, 3990 Whites Cave Road, Sparta, TN 38583
- Put your new skills to the test out in the wilderness!
- Participants must be able to walk across rocky, slick, uneven surfaces. Participants will also need to have the ability to climb up and down rock ledges.
For this trip, please wear closed toe, sturdy hiking boots and pants. Please bring a good headlamp and 2 other sources of light, water, and extra clothes to change into after the trip to successfully decontaminate after tour. Coveralls are a good alternative to wear over clothing to prevent having to change for decontamination process. Feel free to bring your own cave helmet if you have one, if not, one will be provided for you.
Please read through the decontamination process and more through the link below:
https://tnstateparks.com/activities/caving
Make sure to fill out a permit for each person in your party. Please fill out the permit using the link below:
https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/caving_lost_creek_cave
Please note: Attendance at the Tuesday classroom session is required to participate in the Saturday skills day
Additional Details
- Open to women ages 10 and up
- All minors must be accompanied by an adult
- If you need to cancel, please contact Ranger Codi so your spot can be offered to someone else
In the event of unsafe weather conditions, Ranger Codi will make her decision to cancel or reschedule the skills day by 4:00 PM on July 17th.
Come learn something new, meet like-minded women, and build your confidence in the outdoors.
Contact Email: codi.welch@tn.gov
Contact Phone: 931-401-2079
Meeting Place: White County Chamber of Commerce (117 E Bockman Wy, Sparta, TN 38583)