The Kentucky Cave Alliance (KCA) is a volunteer organization made up of landowners and cavers dedicated to the responsible exploration, conservation, and documentation of privately-owned cave systems in Kentucky. Our efforts focus on fostering partnerships between landowners and cavers to ensure safe and respectful exploration that protects both the land and the caves beneath it, in accordance with the law and the wishes of landowners.
Collaborative Cave Stewardship We promote a cooperative approach between landowners and cavers to ensure the responsible exploration and conservation of privately owned caves in the state of Kentucky. Our aim is to balance exploration with conservation, always keeping landowners’ concerns and property rights at the forefront.
Landowner-Centered Focus We emphasize respect for landowner decisions, ensuring that all exploration and documentation activities are carried out only with landowners’ explicit permission and in accordance with their wishes and requirements.
Safety and Conservation KCA follows strict safety protocols for all volunteers, ensuring that all activities are conducted safely and responsibly. We prioritize the conservation of natural cave ecosystems and encourage sustainable practices during exploration, mapping, and documentation efforts.
Volunteer-Driven with No Costs As a fully volunteer-based organization, we operate without financial transactions. No payments are received or charged for the voluntary work conducted. Our efforts are driven purely by a passion for responsible cave exploration and conservation.Volunteer cavers who visit landowner properties do so with prior permission and adhere to the following behaviors and practices: 1. Exhibit safe and careful movement both on the surface and underground to avoid harmful incidents, while not exceeding personal capabilities. 2. Engage in ongoing learning, training, and practice to become more effective, safer, and more skilled. 3. Never share cave location information, survey data, maps, or other details with any individual, organization, or entity without the express permission of the landowner. 4. Refrain from using or sharing external cave data, surveys, maps, or information from outside sources (organizations, foundations, surveys, grottoes, clubs, etc.) without the landowner’s express permission. Only publicly available data may be used. 5. Avoid using information from other projects, organizations, or entities to support any part of KCA’s work unless expressly permitted by the landowner. 6. Use proper equipment that meets the safety and technical requirements for the activities undertaken during any exploration. 7. Avoid entering cave passages from within landowners’ caves that lead into neighboring private properties or restricted areas without explicit permission from the respective landowners or managers. 8. Treat other participants, the land, its ecosystems, and the caves themselves with respect at all times.What the KCA and its Volunteer Participants DO NOT DO Participants do not access private property without explicit permission from the landowners, and do not rely on legal loopholes to justify unauthorized entry. Participants do not disclose sensitive cave location data or maps to third parties without the express consent of the landowner. Participants do not engage in any activities that violate local, state, or federal laws. Participants do not modify or disturb cave environments beyond what is necessary for safe exploration and documentation, per the law and landowners wishes. Participants do not integrate external cave data from other projects, surveys, or organizations into their work without the landowner’s explicit permission. Participants do not assume liability for any damage or changes to property during exploration.
