We tell people that they might get really dirty, but somehow that’s never enough.

Just the look on their faces, when they see what we mean, makes it clear they had no idea. The average person’s definition of Really Dirty evidently falls far short of brown.

    Part of it may be that the average cave tour doesn’t involve dirt. Without the experience, perhaps it’s difficult to imagine Really Dirty.

    Visitors respond with apprehension: “Do we have to get that dirty?” No. You can stand and watch the fun, or come at a time when the caves are drier. They’re often wet in early spring and after heavy rains.

    They respond with disgust: “Ewwww! Why would you think it’s fun getting dirty?” Oh, the dirt is incidental. The fun is exploring the cave passages, and it’s about having such a good time that the dirt doesn’t matter. The more fun you have, the dirtier you get.

    They respond with bemusement: “Oh my, look how dirty that young man got!” Actually, that’s a girl, and she had a darned good time, by the look of her.

    Frequently, visitors respond with anxiety: “My mom will kill me if I get these pants dirty.” We hope not; moms were kids once, too. So wear stained play clothes, old ratty clothes, painting clothes, or coveralls. Let the kids get dirty. They can be washed.

    And it’s not just for kids—Ledge View Nature Center’s cave tours are also for kids-at-heart. In fact, it seems to require a kid-at-heart adult to get a kid to stop worrying about the dirt.

    When it’s hot and humid outside this summer, the caves will be a cool place to be, naturally air-conditioned. For the general public (individuals and families), Ledge View offers one naturalist-guided cave tour most Saturdays and Sundays (and some weekdays) through summer, at 1 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, and our recommended minimum age is 5 years old with parent. The tour visits Carolyn’s Caverns, a cave system accessed by stairs and ladders, with standing space in rooms and crawling space in passages.  If you bring a flashlight and plan to crawl and explore, you, too, can get Really Dirty.

    The tours are always led by a naturalist, who will discuss the geology, biology, and human history of the cave and guide visitors through the passages. A tour may last up to three hours, but visitors who don’t want to stay that long don’t have to.

    A tour will be offered June 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, always at 1 p.m.

For the rest of the summer schedule or more information, go to our friends group’s website, www.ledgeviewnaturecenter.org. Clicking on the nature center link will take you to the county page. Click on “program schedule,” and then on “summer schedule.”

Come explore the life underground—it’s out of this world!

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