Membership
Dues
Dues are $35 per semester. Come to a meeting, sign up for a trip and find out if caving is for you. Look around at the other clubs at JMU, you'll never find such a great deal!
Waiver
Each student at JMU must complete a consent form before going underground for UREC, as we are considered a Sports Club. Also, if you want to participate in our vertical training, the UREC Rock Wall Waiver must also be filled out.
Communication
We operate on a listserve, where all members can communicate with each other, to help plan our weekend trips. If you want to join our mailing list, send an e-mail to: .
Grotto Gear
All members get access to use the grotto gear. This includes helmets, headlamps, packs, vertical gear, webbing, rope and other caving accessories. Most importantly, we provide the batteries for the headlamps!
What Members Have To Say
I spent just about every weekend underground with awesome cavers my junior and senior year! The club gave me an appreciation of nature and taught me the “leave no trace” creed to live by. I’ve kept in touch with more caving friends 5 years out of college than any other group of friends I made at JMU.
Whitney
MUSG is where I found my true friends and the best experiences and adventures. I could push myself to the limit in a completely new environment every weekend . . . I could escape from any stress brought on with classes by simply going underground with good friends, reliable gear and nice rope.
Morgan
MUSG was a gateway to the outdoors like none I had ever had going into college. The club’s trips opened me up to exploration and a deep appreciation for places that I otherwise would never have even known about. All of these excursions, and people that came along, truly changed my life for the better in myriad ways. To this day, I cave with my best friends, and MUSG was crucial component that provided the experiences that helped us build our friendships. Oh, and there’s also the Rat Ranch.
Kelton
I joined MUSG my first semester at JMU. It quickly became the place I turned to for a fantastic time every weekend with friends I knew who were sincere, caring, and accepting. Every weekend was a different adventure: either caving, hiking or camping, and each one had its own new, crazy story to tell at the end of each trip. Being a member of MUSG gave me an outlet from school and a place to be myself, ultimately helping make me into the person I am today.
Jason
When I saw the Caving Club’s poster at Student Org Night, I was immediately hooked. I saw the cool places they went and I wanted to be as badass as them. Four years later, after rappelling down 120-foot pits and seeing underground waterfalls, I consider myself fairly badass. I made a lot of awesome friends on the way and some of them are among the best friends I made in college. This was as one of the most fun clubs and I’m glad I joined.
Chris
I had never felt as much adrenaline as when I explored my first cave, and I still feel that same exhilaration each time I’ve gone underground since college.
The connections you make with other caving members are deep and lifelong, meeting them has truly changed my life. Joining this club was, hands down, my best decision at JMU.
Samantha
Caving with MUSG has literally let me see and become part of another world, both geographically and socially. If you think you have an insatiable wanderlust, then being a part of this club is the best way to scratch that itch for adventure.
Henry
The caving club made my college experience. It gave me the skills to become a real “caver.” But most importantly, it gave me a great group of friends, which my wife is included, along with many of my favorite memories and best stories.
John
Being a member of the MUSG family instilled a desire and passion to explore the world underground and push the limits of my comfort zone, all while creating some some of the greatest memories and friendships of my undergrad years. I will always hold MUSG dear to my heart.
Katie
Joining MUSG was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made. It led me to friends that I consider my family, the sport I absolutely love, and many, many amazing experiences that I would not trade for anything in the world. But the most important thing it’s done is to help me find who I am.
Rachel
Joining MUSG helped me discover my passions and the kind of people I want to experience them with. I did not understood the mysteries of underground Earth, interestingly unknown to most people. My favorite part of being in the club was watching as new members began to understand the immense beauty that resides in such a dark and isolated place. MUSG is one of the best opportunities you may have to rediscover yourself, push your own boundaries, and become more confident in your abilities below and above ground in everyday life. Entering the JMU caving community is easily the best decision I made entering the University.
Brian
Joining the caving club was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I found a family whom I learned to trust during challenging situations. It helped me discover who I am and taught me how to be resilient, both physically and mentally. The beauty of the underground world is incomparable and astounding, especially to geologists like me. This is how I discovered my passion for caving and studying the secrets of how they’re formed. So far, I’ve completed 3 research projects on cave geology and currently work my dream job as a caving geologist for the National Park Service. I don’t know where I’d be right now if I hadn’t joined MUSG.
