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The Historic Entrance of Mammoth Cave.

MCICSL is located in Mammoth Cave National Park in south central Kentucky. Western Kentucky University is approximately half an hour away in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Several other state and private colleges and universities exist within a few hours of Mammoth Cave National Park. Numerous elementary, middle, and high schools are also found within an easy drive of Mammoth Cave. The Louisville International Airport, the Blue Grass Airport (Lexington, KY), and the Nashville International Airport are all located within two hours of MCICSL.

Mammoth Cave National Park preserves a world class cave system, a portion of the Green River, and a diverse forest ecosystem. In 1981, the park was named a World Heritage Site. Then in 1990, it became the core area of an International Biosphere Reserve.

Although there are hundreds of caves within the park, Mammoth Cave is the most well known. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world; to date, almost 400 miles of cave passages have been surveyed. In addition, it is one of the world's most biologically diverse caves; approximately 130 species have been identified using the cave.

The Green River bisects the park and its tributaries formed the caves located within the park. It is home to many endangered or threatened species and has a high number of endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world. The Nature Conservancy classifies the Green River as one of the nation’s top four river systems for fish and mussel diversity.

Above the cave systems and surrounding the Green River, is a rich terrestrial ecosystem. This ecosystem lies in the transitional zone between two forest types and contains elements of each. The park’s forests provide a refuge for trees such as American chestnut, American elm, butternut, and Eastern hemlock. Several small remnant prairies can also be found within the park’s boundaries. Rattlesnake master, Eggert’s sunflower, and many grassland birds can be found in these barrens. Numerous other common, threatened, and endangered species of plants and animals find shelter within the park’s woods and remnant prairies.