Jewel Cave National Monument

When emergencies occur, Americans take it for granted that trained help will arrived promptly. That doesn't happen by chance, however, and a recent training session will help prepare emergency responders in case things go wrong in some of the most challenging locations on earth: caves.

Is your young-un too young to get involved in the National Park Service's Junior Ranger program? Well, here's news that some parks have created a "Pee Wee Ranger Program" for kids aged 3 and 4.

The second longest cave in the world just got a little larger—at least in terms of the number of miles of surveyed passages. Volunteer cavers have recently mapped new areas at Jewel Cave National Monument which pushed the total known length of Jewel Cave past the 150-mile mark.

The Park Service co-sponsored this year’s International Congress of Speleology (ICS), which has been going on all week in Kerrville, Texas. Many of the 1,300 participants signed up for field trips that included guided tours of developed and wild caves within NPS units.

South Dakota’s Jewel Cave National Monument, which celebrates its 101st birthday today, offers convenient access to underground beauty and the world’s second longest cave system. While it hasn’t always been easy for the public to enjoy Jewel’s scenic wonders, visitors today have three great tours to choose from. Be prepared for a tight squeeze if you choose the Spelunking Tour.