Science & Outdoors
Cavemen not the only ones to enjoy spelunking
The Pointer
jtowl695@uwsp.edu
This weekend, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students will have the opportunity to see if spelunking is “so easy a caveman can do it” and no, the phrase does not refer to switching car insurance carriers.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, Outdoor EdVentures will lead a group of students to spelunk, or explore, Popp’s Cave near Richland, Wisconsin. According to their mission statement, OE is dedicated to “providing quality equipment and experiential programs that support education in the areas of outdoor awareness, environmental ethics and wilderness travel.”
Mike Tanner, a double major in geosciences and natural resource management and trip leader for the cave exploring event, has been involved with OE for three years.
“There are several different chambers and passageways you get to squeeze through,” Tanner said. Although he admitted that cave exploring can be a bit muddy, of all the events hosted by OE, spelunking is his favorite.
Participants are required to bring a light, a change of clothes, food or money to buy food and appropriate footwear. Everyone from professional spelunkers to students who thought spelunking was some combination of spelling and dunking is invited to explore Popp’s Cave. “We’re all really experienced, so you should come to learn,” said Tanner.
Although all students are welcome, yesterday marked the deadline for sign-up, due to a limited number of spots available. The free event will be led by Mike Tanner and Kimberly Meloney. If you are unable to attend this weekend, rest assured knowing that similar spelunking events will be sponsored by OE in the future.
A mandatory meeting will be held today at 5 p.m. in OE, which is located in the lower level of the Allen Center.
Trip leaders and participants will leave at 8 a.m. this Saturday and travel approximately 130 miles to Popp’s Cave for a messy but educational experience.
Aside from spelunking, OE offers numerous trips involving rock climbing, snow shoeing, canoeing, camping, kayaking and backpacking, among others. They provide skills courses for cross country skiing, snowshoe making, wilderness first aid and fly tying, to name a few. Whether or not you’ve used your free student trip yet this semester, be sure to take advantage of this on-campus facility.
Equipment for rent or purchase is available at OE. Canoes, kayaks, cross-country skis, snowshoes, bicycles and camping gear are among the equipment. Rentals and retail purchases can be conveniently billed to your student account.
For more information regarding spelunking or other events sponsored by OE, contact trip leaders, Mike Tanner at mtann864@uwsp.edu or Kimberly Meloney at kmelo944@uwsp.edu. OE is open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday with varying weekend hours.
