Our People

Administrative Staff

Biography:

Chelsea Ballard is our Social Media and Volunteer Coordinator.

Chelsea grew up only 4 miles from Hidden River Cave in Kentucky and has been fascinated with caves and sinkholes since she was a young girl. She grew up on a farm where sinkholes are an everyday challenge. This led her to Western Kentucky University (WKU) to major in Karst Hydrogeology. During her time at WKU, she has completed two undergraduate thesis research projects with grant funding, taught a Cave Conservation and Karst Management class in Texas and completed a Physical Science Technician internship with the National Park Service, inter-agency trainings with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and an internship with the U.S. Geological Survey. She has completed various karst related trainings, karst research projects and classes through her career. She has worked as a cave guide with Diamond Caverns and Hidden River Cave. She was a park ranger and researcher at Mammoth Cave National Park and the National Park Service. Over the years she has been deeply involved with the American Cave Conservation, National Speleological Society, WKU Karst Field Studies, Karst Waters Institute and the United States Biosphere Network. She is currently writing a children’s book centered around the subject of karst. Chelsea now works as the Cave Resource Manager and Research / Project Specialist with Arizona State Parks.

When Chelsea is not working or taking classes to advance in her career you may find her working on cave projects, caving, hiking/backpacking, kayaking, gardening, traveling, spending time with her pets and visiting her family and friends in Kentucky.

Fun Fact: Chelsea had 2 birthday parties at Hidden River Cave when she was 8 and 9 years old. She wanted to show her friends the cave in her hometown of Horse Cave, Kentucky.