Scouts Join Together for Work at Manitou Cave

By Jessica Barkley-Battles

On May 9, Scouts and leaders from three local troops within the Greater Alabama Council joined forces at the beautiful, historic, and sacred Manitou Cave in Fort Payne to perform a service project on the grounds surrounding the cave. Members from Tenbroeck Troop 96, Mentone Troop 178, and Rainsville Pack and Troop 184 removed kudzu, cleared weeds, cleaned up the trail leading to the cave entrance, and cleaned up the creek bed on the property. The work and interest of these Scouts and leaders was the result of a desire to achieve an important goal: to raise awareness for Manitou Cave and to help protect its future.

Manitou Cave is a 320-million-year-old landmark of geological, cultural, and historical importance. Before the Cherokee were forced west on the Trail of Tears, the cave served as a ceremonial site. Over time, it also became a Civil War saltpeter mine, one of Alabama’s earliest tourist attractions prior to 1900, a Cold War fallout shelter, and a popular commercial show cave. It is now recognized as an Alabama Registered Landmark.

If you are interested in Scouting or have questions regarding how to join a troop, crew, ship, or pack, feel free to access the Greater Alabama Council website at 1bsa.org or email the Sequoyah District Executive Nathan Austin at nathan.austin@scouting.org.

If you’re interested in Manitou and helping protect this sacred historic site, you can find additional contact information on their website at manitoucaveofal.org.