Outing clubs relied on vetted shortlists of useful organizations, maintained by people who used them. The resources below continue that practical tradition.
National Organizations by Discipline
- National Speleological Society — the home of American caving: local grottos, training, conservation, cave access, and the publications library (On Rope remains the vertical-work bible). Start here before entering any wild cave; more on our caving page.
- American Whitewater — river beta, flow gauges, accident database, and the legal muscle keeping rivers open and undammed. The first tab every paddler opens; see kayaking.
- Access Fund — climbing-access advocacy and crag stewardship nationwide; pairs with the American Alpine Club's library and grants. Context on our climbing page.
- American Canoe Association (americancanoe.org) — paddling instruction and instructor certification.
- International Mountain Bicycling Association (imba.com) — trail advocacy, building standards, and local chapters.
- Orienteering USA (orienteeringusa.org) — navigation training and the competitive map-and-compass scene.
- American Hiking Society (americanhiking.org) — trail policy and volunteer crews.
Conservation & Ethics
- Leave No Trace — the seven principles underlying all of it.
- Bat Conservation International (batcon.org) — white-nose syndrome protocols and bat-safe caving.
- Indiana Karst Conservancy (indianakarstcons.org) — cave acquisition and stewardship in the state's karst belt.
- The Nature Conservancy (nature.org) — preserves across the Midwest, many open to quiet recreation.
Safety & Training
- NOLS Wilderness Medicine (nols.edu) and the American Red Cross (redcross.org) — WFA/WFR certification; the case for taking one is on our health and safety page.
- National Cave Rescue Commission (caves.org/committee/ncrc) — cave-rescue training and callout structure.
- National Weather Service (weather.gov) — the only forecast that belongs in a trip plan.
Midwestern Land Managers
- Indiana DNR — state parks, forests, and the fish & wildlife areas that hold the state's caves, trails, and put-ins.
- Hoosier National Forest (fs.usda.gov) — the Deam Wilderness and the federal backcountry of southern Indiana.
- National Park Service (nps.gov) — permits and planning for the break-trip parks, from Mammoth Cave to Glacier.
Useful resource lists need regular maintenance for the next generation.