Indiana Cave Symposium: Saturday, April 26, 5:00 - 9:30 pm EDT, Orange County Community Center, Paoli. RSVP using the following link: form.jotform.com/250507540507148
Pre-Symposium Surface Tour: What do caves, outlaws, and domes have in common? Come along on the this field tour and find out! Join long-time IKC and ICS members Carroll Ritter, John Benton, and Carla Striegel-Winner in and around the Springs Valley area of Orange County. For more information and to register, go to SymposiumTour2025.eventbrite.com
Garlic Mustard Weed Wrangle at Orangeville Rise: Wednesday, April 30 from 5 to 7 pm. Join the Orange County Invasives Partnership (OCIP) and Property Manager Carla Striegel-Winner at the Orangeville Rise to help rid our preserve of invasive plants (and maybe some litter). Volunteers will also be at the nearby Wesley Chapel Gulf in the Hoosier National Forest from 2:00-4:30 pm that same day. Long pants, sturdy shoes, and work gloves recommended. Orangeville Rise is about 12 minutes northeast of West Baden Springs, on County Road 500 W in Orangeville (see map). For questions, or to RSVP, contact the Orange County SWCD at orangeswcd@gmail.com (812-723-3311 ext 3) or Carla at IndianaKarstConservancy.info@gmail.com
Garlic Mustard Pull and Stewardship Day at Lowry Karst Preserve: Saturday, May 3, from 10 am to 1 pm EDT. Long pants, sturdy shoes and work gloves recommended. Please let Property Manager Jasper Beavers know you are coming! jay3130@yahoo.com
Save the Date: Wilderness First Aid training, July 12 and 13, near Sullivan Cave Preserve in Lawrence County. Return here for more information when available.
2025 IKC Field Events: Focus on Fauna
Welcome to the Dark Side - Mothing with the experts!
Wayne Cave Preserve, Monroe County, Saturday, May 3, 7:30 - 10:00 pm EDT
Join us for a fascinating evening with moth experts Steve Morris, Jim Vargo, and Jeanette Jaskula. Registration opens April 4, but you may go to IKCFieldTourMay2025.eventbrite.com at any time for more info and have a reminder sent to you.
Hike with a Bat Biologist
Robinson Ladder Preserve, Crawford County, Saturday, August 16, 7:00 - 9:00 pm EDT
Enjoy a hike with our own Board member and bat biologist Goni Iskali as she takes us on an evening hike to discover great bat habitat. Registration opens July 18, but you may go to IKCFieldTourAugust2025.eventbrite.com at any time for more info and have a reminder sent to you. Optional pre-hike stewardship opportunity: Join us at 5:00 PM for a few stewardship tasks, and we will provide a light meal before the hike.
Big Day for the Birds at Buddha Preserve
Buddha Karst Nature Preserve, Lawrence County, Saturday, October 11, 9:00 - 11:00 am EDT
Join us for a bird walk and citizen science as we partner once again with the Indiana Audubon Society and the Indiana Land Protection Alliance for October Big Day. Our event this year takes us back to the Buddha Karst Nature Preserve with an expert birder guide provided by Indiana Audubon. ILPA member trusts throughout the state participate in this event, which is great for newbies, experts, and non-birders alike! Registration opens in September through the Audubon website. Watch here for that link, or contact Whitney at wyoerger@indianaaudubon.org at any time for more info.
Fauna and History of Lawrence County Caves and Karst
Near Mitchell, Lawrence County, Saturday, November 8, 10:00 am to noon EST
Join us for a guided surface tour and hike exploring the unique wildlife and history of Lawrence County’s karst and caves with board members Tom Sollman and Keith Dunlap. Registration opens October 3. You can visit IKCFieldTourNovember2025.eventbrite.com at any time for more details and have a reminder sent to you.
Mission accomplished! We have reached our fund-raising goal for acquiring the expansion property connecting the IKC Wayne Cave Preserve with the National Speleological Society's Richard Blenz Preserve in Monroe County. Many thanks to all our donors; a list can be viewed here.
Join the IKC - Click the Join Us! menu item above for more information. You can pay dues on-line or by traditional mail.
Henderson Park - The IKC now manages access for the City of Salem and The Nature Conservancy to the caves within Henderson Park for recreational caving. Groups wishing to gain access need to apply for a permit. Click here for details.
Indiana DNR - The IKC manages access for the DNR to several caves within Spring Mill State Park and Cave River Valley for recreational caving. Groups wishing to gain access must apply for a permit and comply with proper WNS decontamination protocols. Click here for details.
IKC membership brochure (923k PDF file)
Back issues of the IKC Update online
Our sinkhole management flyer (321k PDF file)
Purchase IKC promo items. Proceeds go to the land acquisition fund.
Donate to the IKC - Help us preserve Indiana's sensitive karst resources.