Volunteers needed for cave maintenance at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
Regular cave cleaning is an important part of cave conservation
WHITEHALL – Staff at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park are seeking volunteers to help with a post-season cleaning of the caverns.
Volunteers in this event will get the chance to see the park up close as they work to reduce some of the impacts from visitors in the cave and on outdoor trails. This includes removing lint and dust from the cave formations, steps and pathways. Trail work will involve pulling noxious weeds and repairing rutted trails.
The event will be Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Main Visitor Center for a brief orientation before the work begins.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to email Kenslee.Jory@mt.gov before Oct. 1 to indicate their preferred area of work.
Park staff will provide knee pads, cotton gloves, headlamps, cleaning supplies and trail tools. Volunteers are welcome to bring a hat, long-sleeved shirt, water, sunscreen, gardening gloves and a shovel. If you plan to work in the cave, please use clothing and equipment that has not been worn in another cave or mine to help prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome in bats.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is about 15 miles southeast of Whitehall, along Montana Highway 2. For more information about the park, please visit stateparks.mt.gov/lewis-and-clark-caverns or call 406-287-3541.
