We're a sensible and safe organization with a caving infatuation! Amongst the membership are both newbies and veteran cavers with over 40 years caving experience. And new members are welcome. We tramp the karst of Vancouver Island in search of new caves and in continued exploration and mapping of longer systems. There are no caving courses in BC, but beginners can join in regular VICEG training sessions, both formal and informal to learn things like vertical techniques, surveying and other methods we use to explore the island underground. And these are valuable skills in a proper caving team. Many caves on the island are relatively close to roads, but some require long hikes and for the more remote sites we'll often involve helicopter transport to get both the cavers and the necessary gear to the site. Trips are reported in the provincial newsletter - The BC Caver - which has been recording the group activities in varying incarnations since 1970. First as "VICEG News" and later as an amalgam with "Island Underground" in the 1980s. The newsletter is a great way to keep in touch with current events, new discoveries, gear reviews and other cave-related topics. Authors of articles including new surveys are encouraged to send in inventory data to the BCSF cave database. During the 2020 and 2021 COVID times, caving was a largely discouraged activity and face-to-face get togethers couldn't happen, so we have been meeting monthly by Zoom which has often included a member presentation on some Vancouver Island cave and karst related topic. Members live all over the island, and even some parts of the mainland. We come from all walks of life and with a wide range of interests and skill-sets, all of whom jump up when there's a cave-related project. If you're keen, then get in touch through the Contacts tab.