INTRODUCTION
The 18th European Cave Rescue Meeting is going to take place in Wojcieszow (Voy-che-shoov), Poland, September 25-28th 2025.
Pre ECRA Meeting: 24-25 September 2025.
This meeting is organized by the GOPR and GRJ on behalf of the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA).
During the Pre-Meeting you can enjoy caving, cave diving and visits to tourist destinations. We are preparing several interesting locations.
More information will be available soon. Please also visit our website www.caverescue.eu for last minute changes or send us an email on info@caverescue.eu in case of any question.
Please note the date for the ECRA meeting in your diary!
We look forward to meeting you in Poland!
The Organizing Committee
Table of Contents
TIME SCHEDULE
PROGRAM
Technical workshop
The program is being worked on.
You are welcome to send your proposals on presentations/practices/workshops to the commission chair (check Contacts).
Medical workshop
The program is being worked on.
You are welcome to send your proposals on presentations/practices/workshops to the commission chair (check Contacts).
Cave diving exercise
The program is being worked on.
You are welcome to send your proposals on presentations/practices/workshops to the commission chair (check Contacts).
Passage enlargement workshop
The program is being worked on.
You are welcome to send your proposals on presentations/practices/workshops to the commission chair (check Contacts).
General Assembly
The program is not available yet.
LOCATION
A small town located on the Kwisa River, with about 3000 inhabitants. It is an important point on the speleological map of Poland. There are several caves in the area, including the Wojcieszowska Rift – the second deepest cave outside the Tatra Mountains.
The town has a rich speleological tradition. For many years, the Polish Championships in Cave Techniques were held here. In Wojcieszów there is also a cottage of one of the local clubs, which serves as a base for speleological and training activities.
EXERCISE AREA
In the town of Wojcieszów and in its close vicinity there are quarries that can be used during the event.
The “Gruszka” Quarry
Located 2 km from Meeting place, widely accessible and equipped with permanent climbing points.
The “Winnicki” Quarry
It is located in a closed mine, 3 km from Meeting place. An ideal place for team practice of rope techniques and passage enlargement.
The “Zimnik” Quarry
Located about 40 km (40 minutes) from Meeting place. The facility allows you to conduct exercises in the field of diving techniques in combination with surface techniques.
CLIMATE IN POLAND
Poland has a temperate climate with cold winters and warm summers.
Wojcieszów, located in the Sudetes, experiences slightly harsher conditions due to its mountainous terrain. Winters can be snowy and chilly, while summers are mild with occasional rainfall.
September in Wojcieszów is generally cool and pleasant, with temperatures gradually dropping and increased chances of rain. The area is known for its fresh air and scenic landscapes, making it ideal for outdoor activities year-round.
PARTICIPATION FEE
The participation fee is 60 EUR and must be paid when the participant checks in.
The participation fee includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the ECRA meeting.
Drinks are at your own expense.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
Not yet available.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The official language of the European Cave Rescue Meeting and Pre-Meeting is English.
Simultaneous translation into other languages will not be available.
PRESENTATIONS
All presentations and documents should be written in English.
The email for sending your presentations is info@caverescue.eu (in PDF format!).
For the smooth running of the meeting, we kindly ask that you send us your presentations no later than one week before the start of the meeting.
We strongly encourage you to submit your presentations!
EXERCISES
We strongly encourage participants to bring their personal caving equipment (for rope techniques, not caving), as joint training sessions are planned during the Main Meeting. If you have any difficulties bringing your equipment, there will be an option to rent it on-site (provided that you indicate this need in the registration form in advance).
Required equipment for excursions will be specified in the Pre-Meeting section.
VISA
No visa is required from citizens of European countries.
Visitors from other countries should contact their Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
LETTER OF INVITATION
If needed, the participants can request a Letter of Invitation by email to: helpdesk@caverescue.eu.
SECURITY WARNINGS
No specific warnings for Poland. Public safety in Poland is very high.
CURRENCY
Currency in Poland is Polish Zloty (PLN).
EURO 1 = 4,21 PLN (02.02.2025)
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
All variations are possible for arrival – own car, bus, train, plane.
By bus and train, you can only travel to the nearest larger town close to Wojcieszów (20 km), Jelenia Góra.
From Jelenia Góra, you will need a car pick-up.
By Plane
- Wroclaw Airport
International airport about 99 km away from Wojcieszow - Prague Airport (Czech Republic)
International airport about 189 km away from Wojcieszow - Poznan Airport
International airport about 246 km away from Wojcieszow - Berlin Brandenburg (BER) Airport
International airport about 272 km away from Wojcieszow - Katowice Airport
International airport about 290 km away from Wojcieszow - Krakow Airport
International airport about 366 km away from Wojcieszow
By Bus
Buses operate on the Wrocław (and other Polish cities) – Jelenia Góra route (the nearest large town).
- Please check here: https://www.checkmybus.pl/wroclaw/jelenia-gora
- From Wroclaw and Prague, you can take also FlixBus.
By Train
There is a line from Wrocław (and other Polish cities) – Jelenia Góra.
- Please check here: https://koleo.pl/
- There is no train from Prague to Jelenia Góra!
PICKUP SERVICE
We will provide transfer to the meeting location from:
- Jelenia Góra bus and train station
- Wroclaw Airport
- Prague Airport
ACCOMMODATION
Provided by the organisers for pre-ECRA and Main Meeting (included in the participation fee).
Accommodation in heated tents with temporary camp beds (only sleeping bags are required).
MEAL AND DRINKS
Provided by the organisers ONLY for Main Meeting (not available during Pre-ECRA Meeting) and included in the participation fee.
“Speleo Bar” will be available during the afternoon and evening.
PRE-MEETING
Wednesday – Thursday, 24-25 September 2025
Lower Silesia is one of the most beautiful provinces in Poland, famous for its numerous castles, palaces and charming towns with picturesque old towns. However, this region offers much more – you will find numerous mines, undergrounds and tourist caves.
During the Pre-ECRA Meeting, we would like to present the greatest attractions of Lower Silesia to the participants.
The program is being worked on.
The excursions can only be booked by conference participants.
PARTNERS
In progress.
ORGANISING COMMITTEE, CONTACTS
Local Organizing Committee
E-mail: ecrapoland@gmail.com
Ewelina Raczyńska, GRJ Poland
Phone: +48 602 614 691
Michal Macioszczyk, GRJ Poland
Phone: +48 514 257 317
Grzegorz Michalek, GOPR Poland
Phone: +48 604 973 211
Marcin Feliks, GOPR Poland
Phone: +48 608 439 835
Dinko NOVOSEL
President of ECRA
Hrvatska Gorska Služba Spašavanja / HGSS, Croatia
E-mail: president@caverescue.eu
Phone: +385 91 517 94 31
Werner ZAGLER
Vice President of ECRA
Höhlenrettungsverbund Deutschland / HRVD, Germany
E-mail: vice-president@caverescue.eu
Phone: +49 151 750 41 557,
+49 89 856 1328 (landline)
Ewelina RACZYNSKA
General Secretary of ECRA
Cave Rescue Group, Poland
E-mail: general-secretary@caverescue.eu
Phone: +48 602 614 691
Giuseppe CONTI
Chairperson of the Technical Commission
Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico / CNSAS, Italy
E-mail: technical-commission@caverescue.eu
Denes Akos NAGY
Chairperson of the Medical Commission
Hungarian Cave Rescue Service / HCRS, Hungary
E-mail: medical-commission@caverescue.eu
Robert ANZIC
Chairperson of the Cave-diving Commission
Jamarska Reševalna Služba Slovenije / JRS, Slovenia
E-mail: cavediving-commission@caverescue.eu
Werner ZAGLER
Chairperson of the Passage Enlargement Commission
Höhlenrettungsverbund Deutschland / HRVD, Germany
E-mail: pec@caverescue.eu
Pete ALLWRIGHT
Communications Working Group
ECRA (Honorary Member)
E-mail: communications@caverescue.eu
Antoniya VLAYKOVA
Responsible for ECRA web visibility
Cave Rescue Bulgaria / CRB, Bulgaria
FIGURES AND PHOTOS BY
Municipality of Wojcieszów
GRJ archive
GJ GOPR archive
