Cave Exploration Honor - Advanced

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Have the Cave Exploration Honor.

   Answer: You must already have earned the basic CAVE EXPLORATION honor (the same Recreational Activities group) as a prerequisite for Advanced Cave Exploration. It ensures that you have mastered the fundamentals: basic equipment (helmet, flashlight, boots), safety standards, basic cave formations, and elementary speleology techniques before advancing to the advanced level. — The basic honor covers the ABCs of speleology (the study of caves) — origin, formations (stalactites, stalagmites, columns), fauna (bats, troglobite spiders). Advanced adds vertical techniques (rappelling), mapping, advanced geology and the exploration of more complex caves. The Brazilian Speleology Society (SBE) regulates the practice in Brazil. Present the honor card to the instructor.

2. Obtain geological maps of the region where you explore caves. Mark on the map the location of all the caves you have already explored.

   Answer: You must obtain geological maps of your region (CPRM/Geological Survey of Brazil at sgb.gov.br/visualizador, free). Mark each cave explored with a colored pin/star, noting: name, coordinates, date of exploration and type of geological formation. Present the annotated map to the honor instructor of the Adventist Pathfinders in any country in the world where there are Brazilian Adventist clubs. — The CPRM (Mineral Resources Research Company) has detailed geological maps free online. Caves are generally formed in limestone rocks (karst) — Minas Gerais, Bahia and Goiás concentrate the majority. The Brazilian Speleology Society (SBE) has a national registry. Marking explored caves shows the speleologist's progress. Use Google Maps/Earth to georeference coordinates with an accuracy of about 5 meters.

3. Be able to give an explanation of how these caves were formed, what they have in common and what can be expected of them in terms of physical characteristics, such as the type and size of the formations, the effects of the action of water, the presence and nature of fossils, the presence and nature of life forms, including bats.

   Answer: FORMATION: caves are formed mainly by the DISSOLUTION of limestone rocks (limestone/dolomite — karst relief) by slightly acidic water (rain + CO2 = carbonic acid) over thousands to millions of years; there are also caves in sandstone, in basalt (lava tubes) and in ice. IN COMMON: soluble/permeable rock, the presence of water and long geological time. WHAT TO EXPECT: 1) FORMATIONS (speleothems) — stalactites (hanging from the ceiling), stalagmites (rising from the floor), columns (the joining of the two), curtains, travertines and helictites, with sizes from a few centimeters to several meters; 2) THE ACTION OF WATER — underground rivers and lakes, constant dripping, smooth walls or walls marked by erosion, sinkholes and resurgences; 3) FOSSILS — bones of ancient animals and seashells in the limestone rock (an indication of an ancient sea floor) and, in the DSA creationist view, records of the Flood; 4) LIFE FORMS — at the entrance (the lit zone) plants, mosses and insects; in the dark interior, bats (important for the guano that feeds the chain), spiders, crickets, amphibians and troglobite species adapted to the dark (blind, pigment-less fish and invertebrates). BATS: they live in colonies on the ceiling, are essential to the ecosystem and to the balance (insect control and pollination) — they must never be disturbed. — Stalactites grow 0.1 mm/year on average — a grand formation takes millions of years. Famous Brazilian caves: Lapa Doce (BA), Santana (SP), Aroe Jari (MT). Bats hibernate in caves and are essential to the ecosystem. Troglobite spiders evolved without eyes. Lapa do Janelão (MG) has fossils of the giant sloth. The CPRM and SBE catalog more than 22,000 Brazilian caves currently known today.

4. Plan and carry out a cave exploration where it is necessary to descend at least 12 meters by rappel and then climb back up. If you have little or no experience in rappelling, practice before the expedition.

   Answer: You must plan an exploration with a descent and climb by rappel of 12+ meters. BEFORE: practice rappelling in a safe place with a qualified instructor, check the equipment (dynamic/static rope, harness, helmet, descender 8/ATC, ascenders). — 12 meters is a considerable height (4th floor) — it requires technique and the right equipment. Rappelling is a controlled descent by rope + brake (descender). Climbing uses Jumar/Croll ascenders (the SRT — Single Rope Technique). Before the exploration: assess the cave, train the team, have a rescue plan. The Brazilian Speleology Society (SBE) offers courses and regulates the practice nationally. Accidents in caves are frequently fatal.

5. Conduct a small biological survey in the 3 zones of the cave: the photic or entrance zone, the disphotic or twilight zone, and the aphotic zone, analyzing the walls and the ceiling in this last zone. Photograph each specimen and identify all the animal and plant life forms in each of the cave's zones. Classify the animals found as trogloxenes, troglophiles or troglobites. Compare the photographs with material on display in a natural history museum or with university collections. Publications about cave fauna and flora may also be useful. Remember the motto: "Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints"

   Answer: You must survey 3 zones: 1) PHOTIC (entrance, with sunlight) — vegetation, common insects; 2) DISPHOTIC (twilight) — mixed fauna; 3) APHOTIC (total darkness) — analyze the walls/ceiling. Photograph and classify: TROGLOXENES (occasional visitors — humans, bears), TROGLOPHILES (live inside but go out — bats), TROGLOBITES (exclusively cave-dwelling — blind fish, eyeless spiders). Compare with a museum/literature. — Trogloxenes = occasional visitors. Troglophiles = facultative (they come and go). Troglobites = obligate (they live only in caves, usually without eyes and without pigmentation). Brazilian troglobite spiders include several endemic species. Blind fish of the genus Astyanax are classic examples. Photographing is non-invasive — it follows the motto 'Take nothing but photos'. Compare with the SBE, museums and specialized literature.

6. Take part in the process of mapping a small cave that you have explored.

   Answer: You must take part in the mapping of a small cave that has been explored: 1) MEASURE distances with a tape measure; 2) RECORD directions with a compass (azimuth); 3) DRAW a floor plan and profile; 4) MARK formations (stalactites, stalagmites, rivers); 5) GEOREFERENCE the entrance with GPS. Use BCRA (British Cave Research Association) techniques or grade 1-2-3-4 (accuracy). Present the finished map to the instructor. — Cave mapping uses instruments: a tape measure (distances), a compass (azimuth), a clinometer (inclination), GPS (entrance). The DistoX and Therion software are the professional standard. Amateur mapping uses notebook+pencil+ruler. The SBE (Brazilian Speleology Society) has a standard protocol. Each mapped cave can enter the National Registry. Mapping preserves knowledge — an unknown cave is a cave at risk of degradation.

7. Log 100 hours of cave exploration experience. Keep accurate reports of each exploration.

   Answer: You must log 100 hours of cave exploration experience, with accurate reports of each one: date, cave visited, duration, team, equipment used, geological/biological observations, photos, annotated map. Use a physical notebook or a digital spreadsheet. 100h is equivalent to about 30-40 explorations. Present the complete log to the instructor to validate the advanced honor. — 100 hours is a significant amount of time — about 30-40 typical expeditions (3-4h each). Each report should include: date, start/end time, location (GPS coordinates), team (names, role), equipment used, weather conditions, formations observed, fauna found, incidents/lessons learned. The SBE recommends a standardized format. Records have personal, scientific and legal value (in the event of an accident on a team).

8. Conduct a cave exploration course for children, juniors or teenagers of your church or community, the high point of which must be a visit to at least 1 cave.

   Answer: You must conduct a cave exploration course for children/juniors/teenagers of the church/community. Program: 1) THEORETICAL CLASSES on formation, equipment, safety, fauna; 2) PRACTICE with equipment (helmet, flashlight, harness); 3) A VISIT to at least 1 real cave (with a safety plan and an adult team accompanying). Document it with photos. Present the report to the instructor. — Conducting a course multiplies knowledge — the Adventist principle of discipleship. For a group of young people, tourist caves (with infrastructure) are recommended, such as Lapa Doce (BA), Santana (SP), Pratinha (BA) — safe and visually impressive. ALWAYS with responsible adults and an evacuation plan. A parental authorization form is mandatory. The course can have 4-8 theoretical hours + 1 field day.

9. By talking with a cave exploration guide or a member of a speleology group, find out what behaviors must be observed during an expedition. If possible, do more than expected when exploring a cave.

   Answer: Talk with a guide/speleologist (the SBE — Brazilian Speleology Society) about behaviors: 1) NEVER explore alone — always in a team; 2) TELL someone outside about the route and expected time; 3) DO NOT TOUCH formations (stalactites break); 4) DO NOT LEAVE TRASH; 5) DO NOT HUNT fauna. — The Brazilian Speleology Society (SBE, founded 1969) is the national reference. Caves in Conservation Units (UCs) require authorization from ICMBio. Touching formations with a dirty hand contaminates and breaks them. 'Leave nothing but footprints' is a worldwide motto. Not hunting fauna is the law (Law 9.605/98). A minimum team of 3 people (the golden rule: if one gets hurt, one takes care of him and one goes for help).