AGFC’s simulated cave shines light on conservation

LITTLE ROCK — A cave on wheels sounds like a strange proposition, but it works.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently repurposed a 20-foot enclosed trailer into 45 feet of cavern passages with the help of student designers. The AGFC Mobile Cave travels to schools and other destinations to spread the word about the importance of cave conservation in a state that has more than its share of underground wonders.

The mobile cave is not intended to be realistic; it imparts the sense of adventure experienced in the darkness of a cavern.

“It emulates the wild cave experience,” Skeet Lewis, an AGFC education specialist, said. “We incorporate a call to action for cave conservation.”

The back of the trailer opens to reveal a small tunnel opening at the floor level. “Spelunkers” are given a helmet, gloves and a light before they began the crawl, which runs the length of the trailer, turns, doubles back, and includes a quick climb and a short drop. The exit, at the bottom of the front of the trailer, allows explorers to get their feet back on solid ground. The experience is suitable for students K-12 and anyone else who feels adventurous and is limber enough.

A separate wooden device, a “squeeze box,” lets would-be spelunkers squirm through an adjustable space, so they may see how daunting a tight cave passage can be.

AGFC Education Division Chief Mary Beth Hatch says work on the trailer began more a year ago. The cave system was built with plywood (painted black of course) and paid for with a grant from the Walmart Foundation. There are no lights inside the passageway. In case someone becomes stuck or faces claustrophobia, the panels on the side of the passageway can be removed quickly.

A sign on the inside of the trailer door explains the history of Eagle Antler Cave: “Most caves take millions of years to form. We weren’t so patient. This simulator was designed and built by students of the Deer/Mount Judea School District and named Eagle Antler Cave in honor of the school mascots.”

The sign goes on to explain how the students decided on the dimensions of the passageway in the trailer.

“How big should a cave passage be? We looked to a familiar environment: the world beneath a classroom table. Our passages were designed to mimic that cozy, crawlable space that many of us explored as kids. The goal wasn’t just to build a cave, but to create a familiar sense of adventure and discovery.”

Hatch says the cave was featured at last year’s inaugural Generation Conservation Summit, and has spent many weekdays traveling to schools throughout northwest and central Arkansas since its debut. Educators can reach out to Jordan Bevil, statewide caves coordinator and manager of the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center at jordan.bevil@agfc.ar.gov to learn more about cave conservation in Arkansas. You can also visit agfc.com/education/caves to learn more about incorporating cave curriculum in your education lineup.

####

CUTLINE:
A young spelunker emerges from Eagle Antler Cave, the AGFC’s latest mobile education exhibit. AGFC photo by Jeff Williams.