A new organization is hoping to expand the reaches of Mammoth Cave National Park by increasing educational and fitness opportunities and by raising money for needed park projects.

The Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park will have its public unveiling Thursday at a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cave City Convention Center.

The group is headed by Bowling Green attorney LaJuana Wilcher, also a former Environmental Cabinet secretary for the state.

Wilcher, who spent summers from 1974 to 1977 working at the cave and has visited nearly every year since she was 2, said she was approached by park superintendent Patrick Reed about the idea a year ago.

“Nearly all national parks have a group like this,” Wilcher said. “So I agreed to help him with this.”

Wilcher said it is an exciting and important venture for those people who want to help support the park.

Since being approached by Reed, Wilcher and others have written bylaws, formed a board of directors that includes Western Kentucky University President Gary Ransdell, Microsoft senior strategist James Borden, KET host Bill Goodman, Bowling Green attorney Ray Buckberry and others and has an application pending to become a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

“He just considered this one of his first priorities after coming here,” said Vickie Carson, public information officer for the park.

Carson said the organization will be ambassadors for the area.

One of the things that park staff would really like to see happen is make sure that every Kentucky school child experiences Mammoth Cave in one respect or another, Carson said.

Wilcher said education will be a big part of the group’s mission.

“We want to look at how we can help children in surrounding communities to strengthen their science and technical skills,” she said.

The group also wants to promote physical fitness by highlighting existing opportunities at the park and creating new ones. It will sponsor a hike-run on Oct. 11 on the park’s new biking and hiking trails.

Brian Dale, the director of the Cave City Convention Center, said he joined the group because of his city’s position as “the Gateway to Mammoth Cave National Park.”

Cave City motels and tourist activities often attract visitors that also are going to the park.

Wilcher said it is important for the organization to sponsor activities and look for ways for surrounding businesses to be both economically and environmentally sustainable, along with the park.

One of the first things it may raise money for is to build a new raptor house. The park’s raptors are currently located in an area that’s not quiet enough for the natural predators.

“We may try to raise money to build a new raptor house for them,” she said.

In addition to raising money, the organization will likely put in physical labor for such projects.

Dale, communications director for the organization, said it has a list of at least 21 projects it is interested in after talking with park personnel about their needs.

Some friends organizations are able to raise considerable funding for their parks.

“They help subsidize projects that wouldn’t ordinarily be available,” Dale said.

A group in Yellowstone raised $3 million, something which down the road wouldn’t be out of reach for this group, he said.

Both Dale and Wilcher are particularly interested in helping to restore cave tours for persons with disabilities.

In her days as a guide, Wilcher said she recalls taking guests in wheelchairs down the elevator.

“Some of them would cry because they didn’t think they would ever get to see the inside of a cave,” she said.

Dale said the elevator has been deemed unstable for public use for several years. Replacing it would be costly.

Wilcher said anyone interested in helping the organization can become a member, help with their activities or make a planned tax-deductible contribution.

Memberships start at $15 for students and go up to $1,000. Anyone joining at the $100 level or higher by the end of the year will be considered a founding member and will be given special recognition.

Wilcher said the public is invited to Thursday’s reception to learn more about the organization as well as to contribute input about park projects or programs they would like to see happen.

— For more information about Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park, go to www.friendsofmammothcave.org.