8:15 am -- meet in lobby of hotel and pack vans
8:30 am - 9:00 am -- drive to Indian Echo Caverns -- Hours are 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Memorial Day through Labor Day and 10:00 am - 4:00 pm the rest of the season. Cost is $9.00 for adults.
9:00 am - 11:00 am -- tour and study cave
11:00 am - noon -- lunch at snack bar at Cavern
noon - 1:00 pm -- stream study of Swatara Creek (at Indian Echo Caverns)
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm -- observation of sinkhole (at Indian Echo Caverns)
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm -- drive to Millersville State University for tour of the campus weather center
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm -- tour of campus weather center and discussion with the director
4:45 pm - 6:00 pm -- dinner at a local restaurant
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm -- get situated at a local hotel for the evening
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm -- meeting in lobby to review the day's activities and introduce tomorrow's plans
Required Materials:
Directions to Indian Echo Caverns from the Holiday Inn - Harrisburg East: back to top
Go north on 283 to 322 E. Follow 322 E to Middletown
Road exit. At end of exit, turn right. Go about 2 miles until
you see the entrance for Indian Echo Caverns on your right. (est.
time of travel: 15 - 20 min.)
Tour and Study the Cave: back to top
Indian Echo Caverns has been open to the public in Hummelstown,
PA since 1929. In this time, the cave and surrounding land have only
switched owners once. The cave entrance is located along the edge
of the Swatara Creek. After descending the 70 steps to the creek
and cave entrance elevation, you will find the cave's doors. Upon
entering the cave, you will find several rooms filled with stalactites,
stalagmites,
columns,
flowstones,
sodastraws,
and other types of speleothems.
There are also some areas inaccessible to the public because they are water
filled (like in the picture above).
©Prentice Hall, Introduction to Physical Geology |
The cave was formed by water flowing through cracks in the Beekmantown limestone bed, which formed about 440 million years ago (Ordovician). As uplift in the region occurred (due to collisions of landmasses) this limestone bed was moving up in elevation, allowing the water flowing through it to continue downcutting through the limestone. If the newly formed chamber's ceilings get too close to the ground surface, sinkholes can occur. In the East Canyon room of the cave, we will actually observe a sinkhole from the underground perspective! It looks like a landslide! |
While in the cave, we will be taking temperature readings
in all chambers and recording them to compare later ( on average, the inside
of the cave is about 52º). We will also be measuring the length
of the speleothems that are accessible to us. Also, at the locations
where these features have been broken, we will measure any visible growth
rings. Lastly, we will observe the organisms living there and visually
compare the colors in the rocks and notice how past water levels can be
determined by both the rock colors and features in the rocks (like holes
in the ceiling of the main chamber) indicating a past water level--the
holes are believed to have been formed by the "swirling" of the water surface
in the cave.
Stream
Study of Swatara Creek (at Indian Echo Caverns):
back to top
| After our work in the cave, and lunch, we will conduct a stream survey of the neighboring Swatara Creek. We will calculate the stream's velocity, using the trash method, by taking the distance an object flowed on the water and dividing it by the amount of time it took to move that distance. We will also measure the width and depth of the stream, temperature of the water (at both the edges and in the center) and observe the rock types and organisms in the area. We will later be conducting the same survey at a different location along the "Swattie" with which we will compare the information we have obtained. | 
Picture of the Swatara Creek taken by Tricia Schafebook |
Observation of the Sinkhole: back to top
Before leaving, we will visit the sinkhole that we observed from within the cave. We will discuss the process by which it was formed (collapsed chamber due to the ceiling weakening by further erosion) wand why the landowner should not try to fill it in. Along with this, we will discuss sinkhole development in limestone rich areas.
Directions to Millersville State University: back to top
Get back onto 322 W. Take 283 S to Millersville/Rohrerstown
exit. Go South on McGovernville Road---this takes you into campus.
(est. time of travel 1 hour)
Tour Campus Weather
Center: back to top
©Millersville University |
We will tour the weather center at Millersville University Science Center. Here, we will be shown how forecasts are made by utilizing the data collected. the room's walls are covered with maps of the region---some show surface wind flow (like the picture to the left) and some show air flow aloft. We will also observe how meteorologists use satellite and radar imagery to forecast the local weather. | |
| We will examine the roof weather station as the anemometer records the wind speed and barometer records the air pressure (along with all the other instruments on the apparatus). As we are observing the weather equipment, questions can be answered by our tour guide--which could be students, professors, or the director of the center. | 
©Millersville University |
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©Millersville University |
The tour guide will also show us how and where historical
climate data is stored and used to compile statistics (like what an average
temperature is for a certain day for the past 100 years). We will
also discuss how the center is affiliated with the National Weather Service
Station located in State College, PA.
Students are required to keep a journal on what is seen and discussed (i.e. circulation patterns on computers, air pressures rising/falling). While there, students will also be asked to use the information seen and reviewed to formulate a local forecast for the area! |
Evening Meeting: back to top
This evening's meeting will be used to review the cave features and creatures. We will look at all measurements taken and see if there is a correlation between temperatures, rock types and creatures present at various locations within the cave. We will then discuss the stream findings and determine whether or not this part of the "Swattie" can be considered a healthy body of water, or not. We will also discuss the sinkhole and different land use alternatives for regions with high sinkhole probability (to develop or not to develop?) Lastly, we will discuss the weather center at Millersville University and how the advanced technology has helped the advancement of this scientific research.
I will inform the students about tomorrow's tasks: We will be visiting two quarries, a landfill, and an old dam in Lebanon County. Stable shoes are required.
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