We would like to invite SCCi memebers and their guests to join us for the 2019 Member Appreciation Day at Fricks Cave Preserve. If you are coming, please follow the RSVP instructions at the end of this email.

WHEN:Saturday,February 9th.Drop in any time between 9:00AM and4:00PM.

WHERE:Fricks Cave Preserve,1510 Fricks Gap Road, Chickamauga GA 30707

Thecookoutwill begin at11:30 am Eastern and food will be served until we run out.We encourage you to visit the cave; have aburgerorhot dog;andvisit with friends.

Primitive camping is available on Friday and Saturday nights. Signs will be posted directing you to campsites. For more information on camping or caving at Fricks Cave, contact the preserve management team atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or by calling ET Davis at423-667-9946.

Please note:

• Anyoneenteringthe cave must bring their own helmets, headlamps, and all appropriate caving gear.All gear must be clean in accordance with the SCCiClean Caving Procedures. This requirement is to prevent the unintentional introduction of foreign bacteria, fungus, and other microscopic life forms into the highly sensitive cave environment. Anyone who does not have appropriate gear, or whose gear has not been cleaned as described above, will not be allowed to enter the cave. Because the fungus that causesWhite Nose Syndromein bats has been confirmed in Fricks Cave, anyone visiting the cave must also clean and disinfect their gear before visiting any other caves.
• There are no guided caving trips; at least one member of each group musthave sufficient caving skills and experience that they can navigate their group through the complex passages of this wild cave on their own.
• Visitors to the cave should dress appropriately: Fricks Cave is a stream cave, and can be very cold and wet in winter, even when it is warm outside.The water flowing through the cave will be cold; visitors should expect to get wet at least up to an adult's knees, and may also get quite muddy; polypropylene or other synthetic underwear as a base layer will help reduce the very real potential forhypothermia.
• Anyone planning to visit the cave should plan to have a complete set of dry and warm clothes to change into after visiting the cave. There are no indoor facilities at the preserve.

We hope that you will make plans to join us for this unique opportunity!

Love bats?Every year on Member Appreciation Day,Katrina Morris from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources conducts a bat survey in Fricks Cave. This year she has offered to have 10 people tag along with her while she works and explains what she does. She will start around 9 am. If you are interested in joining her, please send an email toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to reserve your spot in addition to RSVPing below.

RSVP PROCESS

This year we are combining the RSVP process with the release signing process. The link below is to the online release form for this event. Each adult should sign their own release. After clicking on the link, click NEXT while reading through the release. Parents/guardians with minor children should add the minor'snamein the minor box. One minor's name per line.

https://permits.scci.org/release-form.html?wic_release___permit_id=8681

Upon arrival, we will confirm you have signed the online release and give you a wrist band. All attendees (caving or not) should sign the release.

This process will save trees by not printing releases and speed up the sign-in process. If you have any questions or difficulties, please emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..