2026 Week-Long Restoration Camp
2026 Week-Long Resto Camp Announcement
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Greetings, human restoration units, cave-adjacent biological entities, and those brave few still willing to fill out a form without first asking AI to summarize it.
It’s time once again for the much-anticipated 2026 Week-Long Mammoth Cave Restoration Camp! That’s right: mark your calendar, submit your vacation request, charge your headlamp, ask your AI assistant to pack your cave bag, and prepare to spend a week at Mammoth Cave doing what we love with the people we love to do it with.
This year, in recognition of our brave new future, I considered letting AI fully run August Camp. Unfortunately, after a careful review, the AI immediately suggested “optimize cave restoration by replacing all cavers with autonomous lint-removal drones,” which felt hurtful. So, for now, we will continue using the traditional system: actual people, actual cave work, and actual camaraderie.
Now right down to brass tacks, due to current economic factors the price for the week is increasing to $100, only a $5 increase from last year. Even at that, it remains one of the best deals in caving: a full week at Mammoth Cave, meals included, restoration work, educational trips, friends, stories, and the chance to become spiritually bonded with your kneepads.
Signup starts June 1st at midnight Eastern time and is available using the form located here:
https://www.restoremammoth.com/2026-weeklong-mammoth-cave-restoration-camp/
Payments accepted via: Check, PayPal, Zelle, Apple Pay, or Venmo.
As of now, and unless things change, we will be staying at Maple Springs. For those new to camp, Maple Springs includes the main house, bunkhouse, tent camping space, kitchen/classroom building, bathrooms, showers, a signed copy of The Piano Lady LP, and the usual collection of people pretending they are going to bed early.
Please remember that the Green River Ferry sometimes does ferry things, which is to say it may or may not be operating depending on river levels, weather, maintenance, and at times, mysterious forces. The park maintains a ferry status phone line at 270-758-2166, and Maple Springs can also be reached from the north if the ferry is closed.
Love you all, can’t wait to see you in August, and remember: AI may be coming for all our jobs, but until it learns how to carry concrete, we’re still essential.
See you underground!