What we’re about
The Bexar Grotto is a local chapter of the National Speleological Society. We are a group of people interested in the exploration, surveying, and the conservation of caves. And we like to get muddy.
We explore undeveloped "wild" caves, not commercial caves with sidewalks and lights. The caves we explore require helmets with headlamps and usually kneepads and gloves for crawling around. We venture where few people have ever gone, see amazing, beautiful formations that have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form, and form life-long camaraderie with people who shared these rare wonders.
Membership dues are a bargain at only $5 per year (January to December). Most of the events on our calendar are intended for dues-paying members, but we do have some beginner trips complete with loaner caving gear in case you'd like to see what caving is all about before you commit a whole $5 to the greatest adventure of your life. Seriously. Greatest adventure of your life.
If you want to know what gear you need to get started caving, check out our Gear Page.
The best way to get involved and go caving is to attend a Bexar Grotto meeting. We meet every second and fourth Monday at 7pm. We rotate using the Conference Room at Chester's Hamburgers, 1006 NE Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78209 (on 410 between Broadway and Nacogdoches) and online meetings. This is a great place to meet fellow cavers and find out what's happening in the caving community. Plus, we often schedule impromptu local cave trips at the meeting, especially if there are new members (thus we have an excuse to go caving)!
If you can't attend meetings, the next best way to keep in contact with the Bexar Grotto is to join our email list. Major events are posted to our Meetup and Facebook pages, but all events get posted to our email list, particularly local caving projects and short-notice trips. Don't worry, though—there isn't much email traffic, usually only a few emails per month. Contact the current group chair to get you added to the list.
In addition to our regular meetings twice a month, we typically have 1–4 trips per month, plus regular karst surveys at Government Canyon SNA and monthly Vertical Workshops. Come join us and we'll get you underground and muddy in no time!
