Western Region
of the National Speleological Society
The Western Region is an association of NSS grottos in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. It promotes cave conservation, the scientific study of caves, exploration, and speleo-education. The Region’s grottos host the annual business meeting in the fall. The region publishes the Western Caver to communicate information about regional activities, exploration, and research. The Western Region is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so dues and donations are tax deductible.
Annual Meeting and other events
Each year, one of the Region’s grottos hosts an annual business meeting in the fall. Cavers from the region join together to discuss region business, plan activities, share issues of concern to the caving community, and discuss caves and cave related topics. In addition to the business meeting, the Western region periodically hosts speleo-educational and cave rescue seminars.
Western Region Electronic Mailing List
The Western Region has an email list to enhances communication between the Region’s cavers.
Western Region Grant Fund
The Western Region provides grants for scientific research and cave conservation.
National Speleological Society
The Western Region is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society. For information about the National Speleological Society, contact:
National Speleological Society
6001 Pulaski Pike NW
Huntsville, Alabama 35810
(256) 852-1300
Visit the NSS web site!
Cave safely and remember the NSS motto:
“Take nothing but pictures
Leave nothing but footprints
Kill nothing but time”
To join the Western Region
Submit a completed application with a check for $10 made payable to the Western Region of the National Speleological Society to:
Western Region Secretary/Treasurer
Gail McCoy
11910 Brookridge Dr. Saratoga, CA 95070
Individuals who join the Western Region can participate in region activities, receive the Western Caver, but do not have voting privileges. Voting is reserved for the Region’s grottos.
The Western Region of the NSS is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Region Officers
Katrina Smith, Chair
chair@nsswest.org
Jesse Johnson, Vice-Chair
vicechair@nsswest.org
Gail McCoy, Secretary-Treasurer
secretary@nsswest.org
Scott Nicolay, Editor, Western Caver
editor@nsswest.org
Amanda Mortimer, Grants Chair
grants@nsswest.org
For more information about the Western Region, feel free to contact any of the Region’s officers.
To learn more about the history of the grotto, see our timeline (in process).