Post by Kelly Jessop on Jul 23, 2008 3:54:19 GMT -5
www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2008/07/22/news/doc48853ade564dc249529019.txt
Dive on in
Three divers prepare to explore the caves of a local spring. Hundreds of other underwater cave divers, as well as those who explore air-filled caves, will converge in Lake City Aug. 11-15 for the National Speleological Society 2008 Convention. Cave exploration convention coming to Lake City
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:17 AM EDT
The National Speleological Society, one of the leading groups in the area of cave exploration, has announced that Lake City will host its 2008 national convention next month.
The NSS 2008 Convention will take place Aug. 11-15 and bring more than 500 cave explorers to Lake City. This is the first time the national convention has taken place in Florida.
The weeklong convention will see tours of the area, mini workshops and a number of other events for those in attendance. Events will take place at Lake City Community College and Columbia County Fairgrounds.
A society of cave explorers, the 12,000-plus members of the national organization, explore caves throughout the country, both underwater and air-filled caves, said Buford Pruitt, chairman of the NSS 2008 Convention committee.
Pruitt said when choosing a hosting site, organizers look for a place that has meeting rooms in a close proximity to a campground. He said organizers looked in the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas, as well as Ocala and Gainesville before finally taking a look at Lake City.
“We liked what we saw,” he said.
During the convention, the days will bring with them a number of activities — field trips will include a focus on the geology and ecosystems and habitat types of North Florida, and cave diving expeditions will be held as well — and a number of seminars will focus on lighting systems, topography and climbing and descending ropes. Also on display will be a number of member paintings, three-dimensional sculptures, photographic prints and a cave ballad contest.
The nights will see various parties as well as a photo salon, which will exhibit hundreds of cave photographs taken by members, and wrap with an awards banquet the night of Aug. 15.
For more information about the NSS, or to find out about joining the society or attending the national convention, visit the official Web site at www.caves.org.
Dive on in
Three divers prepare to explore the caves of a local spring. Hundreds of other underwater cave divers, as well as those who explore air-filled caves, will converge in Lake City Aug. 11-15 for the National Speleological Society 2008 Convention. Cave exploration convention coming to Lake City
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:17 AM EDT
The National Speleological Society, one of the leading groups in the area of cave exploration, has announced that Lake City will host its 2008 national convention next month.
The NSS 2008 Convention will take place Aug. 11-15 and bring more than 500 cave explorers to Lake City. This is the first time the national convention has taken place in Florida.
The weeklong convention will see tours of the area, mini workshops and a number of other events for those in attendance. Events will take place at Lake City Community College and Columbia County Fairgrounds.
A society of cave explorers, the 12,000-plus members of the national organization, explore caves throughout the country, both underwater and air-filled caves, said Buford Pruitt, chairman of the NSS 2008 Convention committee.
Pruitt said when choosing a hosting site, organizers look for a place that has meeting rooms in a close proximity to a campground. He said organizers looked in the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas, as well as Ocala and Gainesville before finally taking a look at Lake City.
“We liked what we saw,” he said.
During the convention, the days will bring with them a number of activities — field trips will include a focus on the geology and ecosystems and habitat types of North Florida, and cave diving expeditions will be held as well — and a number of seminars will focus on lighting systems, topography and climbing and descending ropes. Also on display will be a number of member paintings, three-dimensional sculptures, photographic prints and a cave ballad contest.
The nights will see various parties as well as a photo salon, which will exhibit hundreds of cave photographs taken by members, and wrap with an awards banquet the night of Aug. 15.
For more information about the NSS, or to find out about joining the society or attending the national convention, visit the official Web site at www.caves.org.