Successful SASE faculty members enjoy great professional development opportunity at Marengo Cave

Story by Erica Barrow
Professor of Earth Science and Faculty Council President

On Saturday, February 1, thirteen adventurous Ivy Tech School of Arts, Sciences and Education (SASE) faculty members, representing a variety of teaching disciplines, completed an immersive Marengo Cave tour, all in the name of engaging professional development.

During our 3.5-hour cave tour/crawl, we conquered acres of mud, unstable cave breakdowns (a.k.a. rock falls), cold groundwater, high humidity levels, cool cave temperatures (constant 52°F), dead shuttle bus batteries, and tight squeezes within the 325-million-year old St. Genevieve limestone bedrock of southern Indiana. 

Some of our beautiful discoveries included stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies (a.k.a. cave bacon), cave popcorn, waterfalls, and blind cave crayfish.

“The cave tour was a living breathing, example of collaboration and teamwork, as we had to depend on one another, communicate with one another and help each other (literally) as we moved through the cave,” one of the faculty members described.

This team-building exercise was not only beneficial to the faculty but will make a difference for students down the road. One faculty member was able to increase their library of videos for students by capturing great photo and video footage to share in class. Another said they would use this adventure as a discussion topic for students about how the human brain responds to particular situations.

Cave tour participants would especially like to thank the SASE Professional Development Committee members, as well as Dean Rachel Kartz, for their support for this engaging and effective professional development activity.