2023 Spring Convention

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TSA Spring Convention 2023 Banner

The TSA, founded in 1956, has been bringing cavers together from around Texas for over 50 years.  TSA Spring convention is a great time for all of us to come together with family and friends to enjoy group meals, presentations, workshops, new works at the Map & Photo Salon, treasures at the TCMA auction, business meetings, and your favorite vendors.

Location

The 2023 Spring Convention will be returning to Cave Without A Name in Boerne, TX. We have reserved the entire campground for the weekend and will have presentations inside the cave on Saturday. The pavilion is also available for our use both Friday and Saturday evenings.

 

Registration

Online registration is now available. Adult registration is available for $30 and kids under 12 get in free. There is also an optional beer donation if you would like to contribute to the kegs for Saturday night.

Schedule

  • Friday 4 pm: On-Site Check-in and Campground opens
  • Saturday
  • 8 am - 12 pm: Workshops (Stay tuned for how to sign up)
  • 12 pm - 1 pm: TCMA Meeting 
  • 1 pm - 5:30 pm: Presentations
  • 6 pm - 7 pm: Dinner catered by Hungry Horse Restaurant in Boerne (Vegetarian option available) Dessert Potluck
  • 7 pm - 7:30 pm: Awards
  • 7:30 pm: TCMA Auction
  • 8:00 pm: Karaoke and Story time at Pavilion (Prizes for 1. Best Close Call Story & 2. Best Comedic Cave Story)
  • 9:00 pm: Gran Pampel
  • Sunday
  • 9:00 am: TSA Meeting
  • 12:00 pm (noon): Check-Out and Clean Up

Workshops 

Sign up here

  • Beginner Cave Survey and Sketching – Andrea Croskrey and David Ochel
  • Sketching With TopoDroid – Kara Posso
  • Update on Vertical Training Commission: Discussion of Vertical Caving Technique, Fall Zone, Knot Crossing, and Verbal Commands– Geary Schindel and Chris Lafferty
  • Texas Foraging Hike- Jim Funk

Presentations

  • 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: GIS Modeling of the Ranges of Endangered Troglobites - George Veni
  • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (Surface Presentation): Leia’s leap into Caving - Leia Hill
  • 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm: Proyecto Espeleologico Sistema Huautla (PESH) - the 2023 Expedition - Bill Steele
  • 2:15 pm - 2:45 pm: Woot: Conservation and Discovery in Woot Cavern – Matthew Taylor, Joe Mitchell, Greg
    Mosier, Adam Daw
  • 2:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Travertine Caves of the Zacatón Area – Rachael Lindsey, Peter Sprouse
  • 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm: Caves on Protected Lands: A Hidden Resource - Richard Zarria, Drew Thompson, Greg Sullivan
  • 4:15 pm - 4:45 pm: Texas Speleological Survey - Joe Mitchell
  • 4:45 pm - 5:15 pm: Hypogene Karst of Texas: preliminary results of a new structural study in Carta Valley (TX) – Alberto Gaudio

Camping

Campsites are first come, first serve. Picnic tables, pavilion, and restrooms will be available. Electricity is not included. For anybody wishing to use the electricity available at the campsites, you must pay the standard nightly camping rate at the Cave Without A Name office.

Activities

  • Workshops - participate in morning workshops
  • Speaker Presentations - presentations will be held inside the cave, with 1 presentation on the surface
  • Business Meetings - TSA and TCMA will hold their Spring member's meetings
  • Vendors - buy your favorite publications, T-Shirts, and merchandise from your local Texas caving organizations
  • Map and Photo Salon - Submissions are due Saturday morning with winners announced before the auction.
  • Dinner - dinner will be available on Saturday night for all attendees
  • TCMA Auction - TCMA will host their annual auction
  • Evening Karaoke and Cave Story Time - At the Pavilion  
  • Gran Pampel - Ceremony brought to you by Greater Houston Grotto

Map Salon

Enter your cave map in this year's map salon. Maps drafted in 2021 and up to the time of the convention will be accepted. There will be prizes! Check here for more information and entry rules.

Photo Salon

Each photographer is limited to 2 entries.

Prints must measure at least 8 x 10 inches, but not larger than 20 x 24 inches. All entries must be mounted, but not framed. They may be matted at the discretion of the entrant. The prints title should appear either on the matte or on the mount directly below the print. The photographer must not be identified on the front of the matte or mount. Lettering should not exceed 0.25 inch in height. The photographers name and the entry number (assigned by the entrant see entry form) must be written on or attached to the back of the mount.

All entries must be received at the photo salon location by 10 a.m. on the Saturday of convention.

TCMA Auction

After dinner there will be an auction benefiting the Texas Cave Management Association. They are seeking awesome cave or not cave related items donations for this great fundraiser. 

Contact

Additional discussion available on the Facebook event page.

Need more details? Email Crystal Grafft, TSA-Vice Chair