Laurel Caverns Outing

Pack 270, Friends and Family,

Please come join us on an outing to the Laurel Caverns for 1 hour tour of the cavern and and approximately 1 hour of Kavernputt (mini golf). Alternately, this year we will be evaluating interest in a second tour option for older kids and adults. The second options includes more adventurous cave exploring and if we have at least 6 persons will include the Webelos Cave Exploring Pin program.

Who: Pack 270, Friends and Family

What: Choose one program below:

Family Fun Patch Program: 1 Hour Guided Tour of Laurel Caverns, and Kavernputt (Mini Golf within a simulated cavern). Fun easy going tour (there are steps, but the cave is well lit, no crawling required, and I took our 4 year old last year) for adults and children of all ages. (no release form require)

"This family oriented program combines our one hour family tour of Laurel Caverns with Kavernputt, a miniature golf game through the largest simulated cave in the world. Siblings are invited as participants. At the conclusion of activities, all participants receive a bat patch as a memento of their adventure. (Many groups add panning for gemstones or panning for fossils to this activity for an additional $6.00 per child.) Cost: child participants: $14.00 each, parents and siblings are charged same as scouts. Pre-kindergarten siblings are not charged."

Upper Cave Challenge (Spelunking): For scouts/friends/adults 9 and older (2 adult leaders are also required to join the scouts) they have the option to do the upper cave tour. This tour includes an exploring adventure of the cave requiring your own light, and crawling in some areas. The scout program part of the tour (requires at least 6 persons), and includes extra educational training (e.g. taking clay samples, talking through how to read the map as they move through the cave, and education on other aspects of the cave). If we do not have 6 persons we can do the normal upper caving program. (release form required for any upper caving option) (2 hours for non-scouting program (less than 6 persons) and 2.5-3.5 hours for scouting program (at lest 6 persons)).

"Upper Caving begins at the cave entrance in the Visitors’ Center and combines the one hour tour with a second hour in the upper portions of the large rooms of the undeveloped cave. Participants must be at least 9 years of age. Because it is less rigorous than Lower Caving, even many adults prefer it to Lower Caving. It is suggested that children under nine years of age take the Traditional Guided Tour and strongly suggested that the physically challenged carefully consider the strenuous nature of a caving trip. On this exploring adventure there is much climbing up and over rocks. Injuries can occur from this kind of climbing and participants must respect the points made by the release form. "

Cost:

Family Fun Patch Program: $14 per person, Pre-Kindergartners Free

This is the easy going guided tour where parents should not get dirty (no guarantees on kids). The areas of the cave toured lighted and no crawling is necessary for parents (kids may crawl in some areas, no guarantees)

Upper Caving Experience Options (9 years or older):

$22 per person if we do the Scouting Program (minimum of 6 persons required, 2.5-3.5 hours) Webelos earn the Cave Exploring pin if any sisters in girl scouts coming they can earn the Junior Cave Exploring patch)

$22 (they will let us keep the group rate if less than 6) per person if we don't have 6 persons and do just the upper caving program without the extra BSA educational program, 2 hours

Release form (attached below) required for Upper Caving Experience Options.

When: Saturday, October 20^th

Upper Caving Experience Options: Request arrival by 1:45PM as tour starts promptly at 2PM

Family Fun Patch Experience: Arrival by 2:30PM

Website Link: http://www.laurelcaverns.com/

Where: Farmington, PA http://www.laurelcaverns.com/directions/

Money and Signup Form Due Date: October 12^th at 9PM, at Greg’s house. 13720 Harriet Drive, N. Huntingdon, PA, 15642

Separate Signup Forms for Family Fun Patch Program and Upper Caving Program

Contact Information: If you have questions please give me (Greg) a call at 412-303-9111