An energetic expedition of McDonald County youth recently investigated Bluff Dwellers Cave in Noel, Mo., on Saturday Feb. 21, as part of a recent field trip hosted by Young Outdoorsmen United.
The excursion was part of the organization’s monthly scheduled programs to involve kids in the outdoors and related activities.
While the outside thermometer hovered just below freezing and the ground covered in snow, the youngsters, along with their parents, “discovered” comfortable temperatures inside the ancient cave. They also “discovered” many peculiar and distinctive cave speleothems (formations) unique only to Bluff Dwellers Cave such as Balancing Rock, Musical Chimes, Crystal Lake Rim Stone Dam, Lost City, and others.
The “discovery” did not end with the viewing of these special creations. The kids learned to identify common cave features such as hollow straws, cave sponge, columns, fossils, and cave coral. They particularly enjoyed learning the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, illustrated thru a creative poem and dance portrayed by tour guide extraordinaire Mary Jane Fisher.
