Why YOUCave

Hi, I'm Allen. I Chair the NSS
Youth Group Liaison Committee
and the Founder of YOUCave.

This week I don't have an exciting caving story to tell you. I do want to let you know what's going on in the background and behind the scenes of Youth Opportunities Underground.

As most people know I Chair the National Speleological Society's Youth Group Liaison Committee. The Committee is rather passive. The web-page is up and there for anyone who wants information or needs help with a caving activity for their youth group or youth organization. But you cannot just hang out your shingle and expect the world to see you. “If you build it, they will come.” only works in the movies. We have to reach out to the communities that have no idea we even exist and convince them to trust us and to use our expertize. Doing this with a handful of dedicated volunteers and a budget of $0 is not helping with our mission.

YOUCave started out as a hobby blog. Just a way for me to document my adventures and share them with friends and family.

A few year back I found a use for it and all the posts I wrote. That was to help reach out to non-cavers and show them what we do and how much fun we have doing it.

About a year ago I thought about taking this a step further. Morphing YOUCave into it's own nonprofit that would outreach to non-caving communities in general and boast the legend that is the Youth Group Liaison Committee. I also want YOUCave to raise the funds to provide the tools and resources the YGLC needs to do a kick-ass job.

These are some of "my kids". Alex, Katrina,
Damian, and Julianna

Right now as I'm writing this post I have filed and working on the details to make YOUCave an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. This would give us the authority and muscle to raise funds and purchase tools and other resources for the YGLC to do what it was really intended to do. I hope the changes and improvements you see over the next few months and years you will like and enjoy as much as I will. It's going to be an awesome ride.

I would also like to ask a favor of you. Help spread the word of what we do. Share this post with friends and ask them to sign up for the newsletter, too. They won't want to miss the ride either. They just don't know it yet.

Cave Safely, Cave Softly, Cave Often,

Allen

Questions?

If you want more information about taking youth groups caving, or you’re just curious about what’s involved with getting kids underground, visit the National Speleological Society Youth Group Liaison Committee at www.caves.org/youth. Or you can email me directly at allenmaddox@youcave.org. I’d enjoy hearing from you.

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Thanks,
Allen


“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but well placed footsteps, kill nothing but time.” – cavers’ creed