Our Clubs
The Wisconsin Hoofers is the premier outdoors club at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With nearly 2,000 members, Hoofers is one of the oldest and largest student organization on campus. From sailing on Lake Mendota to climbing at Devil’s Lake, Hoofers is a place where people of all abilities can learn outdoor skills and enjoy outdoor activities. Hoofers is proud to be part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the student programming and leadership board for the Wisconsin Union. Get outside with us and hoof on!
Mountaineering
Rock OnFrom conquering the rock wall at Boulders Climbing Gym to traveling the country in search of the most challenging climbs in the country, Mountaineering Club members take trips that challenge climbers of all levels.
Outing
Get FoundFrom canoe trips and backpacking excursions in the fall, to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter, Outing Club members explore the country through wilderness excursions.
Riding
Change PaceFrom horseback riding lessons to schooling shows, Riding Club members are involved in all the ins and outs of riding and horsemanship.
Sailing
Set SailFrom learning how to sail a C-Scow to weekly Friday night socials, Sailing Club members spend time with fellow sailors on and off the water. The Sailing Club’s claim to fame: they have the second largest inland fleet of boats in the nation.
Scuba
Go DeeperFrom year-round trips and training sessions to socials with other divers, Scuba Club members (both certified and not) explore life beneath the surface.
Ski and Snowboard
ShredFrom weekly trips to Tyrol Basin to the Jackson Hole spring break excursion, Ski and Snowboard Club members know how to take advantage of winter.
Get Out and Get Active
How to Join
1. Pick a Club!
We offer six clubs: Mountaineering, Outing, Riding, Sailing, Scuba, and Ski & Snowboard. You can join as many clubs as you'd like! For more information, check out each club's site from the menu above, or head over to the Clubs page for an overview!
2. Create your Account!
When you're ready to join a club (or multiple clubs!), head over to our member site at https://members.hoofers.org to create your account! You must be a Union Member to join. Note that UW-Madison students are automatically granted Union membership.
3. Sign Up for Events!
Once you've joined a club, you can search for events and sign up from the Member Site. Pick your favorite event, sign up, and get ready for an adventure!
Contact Us
Wisconsin Hoofers
Memorial Union, Lower Level
800 Langdon St.
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1630
info@hoofers.org
Contact Us
News
A special winter seminar is being held on March 6th at 6:30 in the festival room. Members and racers from the MYC will be there for a meet-and-greet.
Agenda:
- Why race sailboats
- History of E Scows
- Why race and E Scow – A Love Letter
- Spinnaker work
- Mendota Yacht Club
- Racing terms and what to expect.
- Tips for crew
- How to get involved
Nominations for Commodore, Vice-Commodore, or Rear Commodore will open February 21st and close the 27th. Be sure to check the Elections page for updates and anything else you might need to know
HMC ventured down to Puerto Rico this Winter Break! Some beautiful weather and stellar sport climbing makes for a good couple weeks.
The club heads out to the Red Rocks area annually for some of the best sport climbing in the country. This year, the group stayed in the Las Vegas area. Two weeks of good times!
Annual Halloween weekend trip to the Red! HMC camps at the legendary Miguel's Pizza campground every year, and sport climbs some most legendary crags.
Upcoming Events
Badger Sloop Work Party
We will be polishing the hulls, then we will flip the last three hulls that are still upside down. Wear clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes.
Stoke + Treat Night with Hoofer Mountaineering
Hi Mountaineers!
Come join us in Mendota Lodge on April 25th to eat some sweet treats and get stoked for outdoor climbing! There, we will hear from our incoming VP of education about all the incredible forms of climbing. From ice climbing to trad multi-pitches, there is more to rock climbing than plastic hold and 30ft walls. During this meeting, you will learn what trad multi-pitch climbing is and how incredibly amazing outdoor rock climbing can be. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber HMC wants to help you achieve your rock climbing goals. Come with questions, suggestions, ideas, and passion for this incredible sport! We want to hear from you about your goals and aspirations so we can run more clinics and socials that will benefit you!
Arbor Day at Devil's Lake
Hi folks,
Join us for another year at Devil's Lake for Arbor Day with Devil's Lake Climbing Guides. We are aiming to plant 60-80 trees in the Quartize Campground on the north end of the park. All details regarding the tree-planting aspect of this event can be found here! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RSVP THROUGH THAT SITE PRIOR TO SIGNING UP FOR THIS EVENT! Afterwards, we will be joining forces with another crew of Mountaineers to hang out at the Lake and boulder! Note that I will be taking my personal vehicle and will expect everyone to pitch in a few bucks for gas!!! :)
Plenty of fun to be had -- you should really consider coming to this one!
- Claire
Black Earth Creek Whitewater Canoeing
Come join us in paddling Black Earth Creek, a scenic trout stream in the Driftless Area, and a nice place to learn the fundamentals of river paddling.
By the end of this trip, you should be familiar with moving water fundamentals, including eddy turns, ferries, and peel-outs. We will also discuss the basic moving water hazards: strainers and snags/foot entrapment.
The goals of this trip are to be safe, have fun, and learn something!
SCHEDULE:
Meet at 11:00 am at the Hoofer Boathouse, lower level of Memorial Union.
12:00 pm- leave for Black Earth Creek
1:00pm- arrive at the Olson Road put-in.
1:30pm- start paddling.
3:30pm- reach the Two Bridges/ Wolf Run trailhead in Mazomanie.
4:30 pm- return to Madison
WHAT TO BRING:
Please bring shoes that you are willing to get wet and that will not fall off in the water.
Dress for being immersed in water. You can wear activewear layers, or wetsuits are available which you can borrow from Hoofers (or bring your own). Definitely plan to be completely soaking wet!
Bring a towel and a full change of dry clothing, including a dry pair of shoes. We will leave those in the car for afterwards.
Rigging 420's
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Time to wash, wax, and rig the 420s! We will meet by the yellow pavilion. Please wear closed-toed shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a water bottle.
Trailer Training #4
If you anticipate using a FLEET/DOA VEHICLE to tow a Hoofer-owned trailer at any point this fall or winter, then attend this class to get your trailer towing certification! This would include towing a sailboat for lift-out, towing the horse trailer, towing the alpine ski trailer, or possibly towing the outing club canoe trailer. Please note that if someone cannot make this class, other trailer trainings will be offered in the future. Outdoor UW plans on running two trainings each semester. FLEET AUTHORIZATION WITH WISCONSIN HOOFERS IS REQUIRED. If you are fleet authorized with another UW department, you must submit paperwork with our office as well to become fleet authorized with Hoofers. There is no cost for the class. We will meet virtually before the in-person driving demonstration to get started and review the basics. After a short presentation, we will be leaving our meeting location to go to LOT 60 (by the UW Hospital) to perform the hands-on portion of the training—dress for being outside.
Previous experience driving a trailer is not required for this training, however, it is helpful as the in-person section doesn't provide much time to practice but instead is mostly meant to demonstrate skills and ability to drive a vehicle with a trailer.
If there are questions please reach out to Dan @ ddunne@wisc.edu. A Zoom link for the virtual component of this training will be sent to participants who are registered the day before the event.
Bouldering Social in Devil's Lake - Extension of Arbor Day celebration
We are going to meet up with fellow hoofers who spent the morning at Devil's lake for arbor day and have some fun bouldering. All levels of climbing experience welcome! Please be at memorial union by 12:45 to help load up the car.
Devil's Lake Bouldering: Reserve
Hey folks,
Are you looking to get out and have a fun day of bouldering with fellow hoofers? Well you have come to the right place. We are going to spend the day at the reserve, a really fun and classic part of Devil's Lake bouldering. Never been outdoor bouldering? All good, beginners welcome.
Bottom Paint and Trailer Prep - J-Fleet
It's time to get the Light Keelboat Fleet ready for the water.!
We will meet at the farm in Arlington (winter storage).
Tasks: Paint anti-foul to the hulls of 8 boats, check tires and lights on trailers, and secure the boats for transport to the lake for early May lift-in. Wear work clothes as you may get dirty.
LOCATION: W7169 Ramsey Rd. Arlington. 43°17'41.3"N 89°21'30.8"W The farm is about 25 minutes from campus just north of DeForest. Please reach out if you would like share a ride or get a ride.
RAIN DATE: Sunday 4/28
Winch maintenance lesson (Light Keel Boats)
This will be a training lesson / work party for all aspects of winch maintenance on light keelboats. We will cover ( and perform):
- Winch removal
- Dissassembly
- Cleaning
- Greasing of gears
- Oiling of pawls
- Reassembly
- Winch installation
This event will take place at the boat winter storage area on the farm in Leeds WI. Take 51 towards Leeds, and then turn left on Ramsey Rd. Travel west for 1.5 miles. The farm with the boat storage is on the left at W7169 Ramsey Rd.
Kohler Stables Tour
Interested in seeing how some of the world's top horses live? Join us for a tour of Kohler Stables, home to National and World Champion Morgan horses! The tour will include the facilities, the horses themselves, and even some new foals.
There is no cost for this tour and transportation will be provided. Everyone is welcome to sign up!
Scow Rigging Work Party
With the scows back on the lakefront, we're ready to get to rigging! We will be working on stepping the masts and slapping some booms on the C and E scows. This is a great way to help the fleet get up and running for the season, and to learn about the scows! Volunteer hours will be awarded :)
Scow Rigging Work Party
With the scows back on the lakefront, we're ready to get to rigging! We will be working on stepping the masts and slapping some booms on the C and E scows. This is a great way to help the fleet get up and running for the season, and to learn about the scows! Volunteer hours will be awarded :)
[4/28] INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL @ LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REBOUND YOUR SOCIAL CREDIT SCORE AFTER MIFFLIN?
WONDERING HOW YOU COULD EVER FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF AGAIN AFTER BLACKING OUT BEFORE 12:00PM?
Satisfy your conscience by joining us for some invasive species removal from 9:15am to 11:30am on Sunday with the Lakeshore Nature Preserve! Each invasive plant removed is like a beer can picked up off the streets of Mifflin. Each bunch of garlic mustard ripped out of the ground removes the musty aftermath Mifflin smell right out of the air. Want to do your part? Want to feel better about yourself again? Join us!
We'll meet at Story Teller's Circle (by Bascom Hill; map here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/y3pav97s5yhPygacA)
- Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes
- Bring at least 1L water and snacks
Please let us know if you have any comments/questions/concerns/late-Devonian extinction memes by emailing conservation@hooferouting.org!
Virtual Ground School
Event Information: Want to learn to sail? Come join us! Our Ground School lesson is an introductory and informational course about the Hoofer Sailing Club and all it has to offer. No membership is required to sign up for this course, though one can be purchased afterwards for access to all lessons.
About the Club: The Hoofer Sailing Club, established in 1939, is a collection of students and community members working together to maintain a fleet of boats for recreational and competitive sailing. Membership includes unlimited lessons and boat usage. Our fleet, one of the largest in the nation, includes dinghies, keelboats, windsurfing and even winter kiting. The Hoofer Sailing Club is an association of individuals working together to maintain a fleet of boats for recreational and competitive sailing, and to offer a top-notch instruction program. More information can be found online here.
Location: This Lesson will occur virtually through the Zoom platform. Members signed up for this event will receive an email from the lessons site on the day of the presentation containing a link and password for joining the meeting. Please keep an eye out for it.
Using Zoom is free. You do not need to install the app or create a Zoom account, but doing so may result in a better user experience. Please visit the Zoom website for more information (https://zoom.us).
Students who attend this lesson will earn their Ground School Attendance rating, which opens access to other sailing lessons.
Post-Lesson Resources:
Scow Rigging Work Party
With the scows back on the lakefront, we're ready to get to rigging! We will be working on stepping the masts and slapping some booms on the C and E scows. This is a great way to help the fleet get up and running for the season, and to learn about the scows! Volunteer hours will be awarded :)
Spring Bloom Lakeshore Run!
Join me and Alex for the final lake run of the semester! We will be exploring a new area near the Lakeshore Preserve, while also running through the Preserve too. It is gonna be a great temperature for running! Pace will depend on the group, but these are pretty chill runs, not super long or intense. All skill levels are welcome!
Meet up at the entrance to Picnic Point near the bike racks and bus stop. The 80 and 84 can both take you there, as well as the Lakeshore Path!
The Preserve will be in full spring bloom, so I hope to see you there!
**The email originally said Saturday, I am not sure why. It is on Sunday, April 28th!
Gear Manager Office Hours
Gear Manager Office hours is a time to get gear and ratings from the gear managers. This even occurs every monday during the spring semester from 4-5pm.
Outdoor Explorer Series (Introductory Course): Intro Expeditionary Canoeing
Have you ever wanted to take an overnight or multi day paddling trip, but not know what you need to do this successfully?
Join us for our new Outdoor Explorer Series: Intro to Expeditionary Canoeing and learn all about the thrilling world of expeditionary canoeing! Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, where tranquil waters meet untamed landscapes, and discover the art of paddling through uncharted territories.
This class will:
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Guide you through the basics of canoeing, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for both beginners and seasoned paddlers
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Teach you essential skills so you can confidently embark on your own canoeing expeditions.
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Discuss safety and equip you with the knowledge to navigate waterways responsibly.
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Share tips to help you connect with nature while in a canoe and discover hidden coves, witness wildlife in their natural habitat, and experience the tranquility that only expeditionary canoeing can offer.
Embark on a journey of self-discovery and exploration. Join our Expeditionary Canoeing Class today and let the adventure begin!
------- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge located in Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) -------
HOC General Meeting
Hey folks!
Join us every Tuesday night for our Hoofer Outing Club general meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet in the Mendota Lodge in Memorial Union at 7pm (near the Lakefront and Outdoor UW office). We will be telling stories of recent trips, discussing upcoming events, and getting to know each other. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
No registration is required!
How to get there:
The General Meetings are typically in the Mendota Lodge in Memorial Union. This room is across from the Outdoor UW desk in the basement of the Union. To find it I would recommend either using Union doors right by the 80 bus stop, walking down a full level to the Wheelhouse, then taking the long hallway that will start with brown wallpaper and transitions to blue; the Mendota Lodge will be the last room on your left. You can also access it from the terrace if you walk inside the doors to the Union right by the wood staircase that goes onto the lake; the Mendota lodge will be the first room on your right.
Look forward to seeing you all there!