This course is an intensive study of the exploration of Mammoth Cave.  A background of Mammoth Cave’s geologic history will be provided before focusing on the human history of the cave: with a special emphasis given to different periods of exploration, the explorers, their discoveries, their motivations, the cultural impacts of their exploration, and current/future exploration endeavors.  Illustrated lectures, maps, photographs, and first-hand accounts of discovery will be used to promote understanding of content prior to daily field trips.  The daily field trips will require extensive travel both on the surface and underground within Mammoth Cave National Park.   Surface travel can vary from paved paths, back country trails, and through areas with no developed trails.  The underground trips will sometimes follow old tourist trails that have not been maintained in decades, while other trips will require more strenuous travel in completely undeveloped passages requiring extended periods of crawling.  Some trips may require short climbs, but no rappelling or vertical caving will take place during this course.  Possible field trips have the potential to last up to 8 hours on any given day of the course. Participants must be in good physical condition.