Archive: "Into the Body" - Exploring Caves for a Trauma-Based Workshop

Suburban Grotto's first caving workshops designed to support people struggling to process traumatic experiences.  Stay tuned for more details.  
NOTE: This retreat is still under development.  2021-2022 retreats are on hold during development of Treatment Supported Rite of Passage program.  During the 2021-2022 cycle, we are partnering with other programs offering experiential and outdoor retreats.

Stillhouse Cave and Sinks of Gandy Cave: A powerful grounding/cleansing combination for bringing people out of their heads and into their bodies. 

Drive from DC: About 3.5 hours
Difficulty Level: Stillhouse: Small but Moderately Challenging; Sinks: Easy, wet.  Both wet caves.

Neeka at Tree: Stillhouse Entrance

Stillhouse Entrance

Stillhouse Muddy Crawl

Stillhouse Chimney Exit

Stillhouse Chimney Exit

Beautiful Sinks of Gandy Entrance

Sinks of Gandy Inside

Long View of Sinks Entrance

Higginbothams Caves (No. 1 and No. 4): A moderate single passage stream cave with multiple entrances (No. 1), situated right next to a beautiful, single-room, easy-access chamber decorated with rimstone.  Good combo for a foray into in-cave processing.  

Drive from DC: About 4.5 hours
Difficulty Level: No. 1: Moderately easy, wet.  No. 4: Very easy, single room (like entering that front room of Donaldson).

Tara at Higginbothams No. 4 Entrance

Tara at Higginbothams No. 4 Entrance

Grassy Clearing at Higginbothams

Grassy Clearing at Higginbothams

Higginbothams No. 1

Higginbothams No. 1

Higginbothams No. 4 Entrance

Grassy Clearing at Caves

Bubble Cave Camping Area

Bubble Cave Camping Area

Entrance to Higginbothams No. 1

(Rather Undescriptive) Photo Inside No. 1