Cave Formation Repair Project

CFRP by the Numbers

1000th Speleothem Repair Queen’s Chamber in Carlsbad Cavern – photo by John Cochran

1,734

Formations Repaired

The number of broken cave formations that have been successfully repaired by Cave Formation Repair Project volunteers. (This total reflects only formations that were actually repaired during a project. It does not include formations that were evaluated, documented, or matched for future repair during the same trip.)

196

Total Formation Repair Trips

The total number of trips completed by the Cave Formation Repair Project since 2018.

8,194.6

Volunteer Hours Based on Departure from Parking Lot

The total number of volunteer hours contributed during Cave Formation Repair Project field operations. (Time is calculated beginning when volunteers leave the parking area and includes the hike to and from the cave, as well as all work performed underground. Many project sites require long backcountry hikes over rugged terrain before volunteers ever reach the cave entrance.)

518,098.5

Volunteer Miles Driven Round Trip from Home

The combined round-trip miles traveled by volunteers from their homes to project sites. (Many volunteers travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, sometimes crossing multiple states, to participate in formation repair trips. Tracking travel mileage recognizes the significant personal commitment made by volunteers to help conserve caves.)

9,234.5

Volunteer Hours Driven Round Trip from Home

The total round-trip driving time contributed by volunteers traveling from their homes to project sites. (While travel distance is impressive, the amount of time volunteers spend on the road is equally significant. This metric highlights the extraordinary dedication to participate in cave formation repair efforts.)

1,953

Volunteer Value Hours

The total number of volunteer hours contributed to projects conducted on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands where volunteer value is tracked and reported. (These hours are used to calculate the estimated economic value of volunteer labor using the nationally recognized annual volunteer hourly rate published by Independent Sector. Based on the current national value of $36.14 per hour, CFRP volunteers have contributed an estimated $70,037.32 in donated labor toward cave formation repair efforts since the project’s establishment .)

Last Updated by Jenna Crabtree on August 22, 2026