SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE, Fayette County — The group of intrepid adventurers flatten their bodies against one side of the narrow passageway.

Their journey has begun.

Despite their first time in a cave, the explorers are not traveling through a typical commercial cave with lights and dry conditions. They are in Casparis Cave, which has confined quarters, no lighting and a wet floor.

Aside from the guides, the travelers range between 12 and 14 years old. Only one of the group has ever been in the cave before.

As the youths crouch, crawl and slide through the constricted passageways, groans, "ohs" and "ows" could be heard.

The trip is part of Slippery Rock University's weeklong Adventure Camp.

After boating at Moraine State Park on Monday, caving was Tuesday's activity.

Upon arriving at the site, Steve Roberts, who conducts the camp, instructs the attendees on what to do inside the cave.

Slippery Rock professor Pat Burkhart from the Department of Geography, Geology and the Environment also was on hand to talk about science at the cave.

Burkhart's daughters Mackenze, 13, and Quinn, 9, also attended the camp.

Roberts leads the campers down a tricky path to the cave entrance. The steep dirt trail, which was barely visible between the green foliage, eventually morphs into a stream — the first of numerous wet spots on the trip.

Following some final instructions, the group is divided into boys and girls.

Roberts leads the girls, with Slippery Rock junior Ryan Jones leading the boys.

With blazing temperatures outside, the cool climate of the cave was a welcome change.

Along with appropriate clothing, those entering the cave must wear miner helmets with lights.

Despite their beginner status, most members of the group make it under the low point of the cave, which requires people to slither along the rocky ground to enter the next room.

Trepidation temporarily overcomes one camper, who starts to hyperventilate — faced with the prospect of claustrophobic conditions.

After being told to take long breaths and rest, he cautiously lowers to the ground.

About halfway through, the boy pauses. Jones guides him through as fellow campers shout out words of encouragement.

"You can do it," is repeated from the other end.

The boy eventually conquers his fear, making it out the other side.

Jones tells the youths about a time when he was with a 300-pound man who maneuvered through the cave despite his apprehension.

"It was funny to watch, though," he says, revealing a mischievous side.

Jones recalls the large friend also dreading the snug passage.

While bigger boys warily entered each new corridor, the smallest one on the excursion, Alex Shaffer, 12, of Mercer was the most adventurous, pushing his less spunky companions forward.

In addition to squishing through tight spots, campers had to trudge through water on foot as well as crawling on hands and knees.

Despite the respite from summer heat, some of the campers said the cold water was a bit too much.

Although not frigid, its temperature was much lower than the heated pools the campers were accustomed to this summer.

Cool air breezed through the cave. All of the rock was cold to the touch, with some of it wet and some gooey from nature's formations.

Throughout the trek, the guides point out nature at work, ranging from stalactite formations to whitish mineral deposits.

Nearing the end of the journey, the cavers pass a thin shower spraying through a crevice.

Next up is the final stop, a waterlogged room where the youths become soaked up to the waist.

Time to head back the way they came.

Campers tread downward where they previously traveled uphill. Crawling up becomes creeping down.

Although still hesitant to creep under the lowest part of the cave, the wariest campers make it out — a lot muddier and a bit braver for their efforts.

Three hours after entering, the group emerges into sunlight and muggy air.

Caked with mud, the youths begin to peel away layers of saturated clothes.

After a group photo, the weary adventurers start the laborious climb to the van.

Roberts has conducted the camp for the last six years and in its current incarnation for the last two.

A frequent visitor of caves in West Virginia and elsewhere, he discovered Casparis through a national caving organization.

Roberts said the South Connellsville cave is an ideal site for beginners as it offers a little bit of everything in shape and other conditions.

He often gets campers from outside the county who are staying with grandparents during part of the summer.

Jones has been to the cave about 50 times, often leading college students.

After reaching the van, the youths walked further down the rock-filled dirt road to wash the mud out in a creek.

Most of the dirty campers were glad to have taken the arduous journey.

The trip fulfilled the purpose of the camp for Patrick Shipton, 13, of Mercer.

"I liked the adventure of it," he said.

John LaMarca, 12, of Grove City agreed caving was a memorable experience.

"It made you think about what you were doing," he said.

The girls might have enjoyed the adventure even more.

Both Mackenze and Kate Miller, 15, of Mercer described the wet, dirty foray as fun.

"We got really wet," Kate said.

However, not all of the campers were ready for another jaunt through a cave.

"That place was not for me," Quinn said, lamenting the color of her previously white pants.

"When I get home, I'm taking the longest bubble bath."