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
Another amazing trip went out this weekend to the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT). The participants got to hang out with Daniel's parents and dog before heading on the trail! They played some games, had a few rap battles, explored some caves, and had an overall great time!
Last weekend, 17 Hoofers went on a canoe trip to the Sylvania Wilderness. They paddled 12.5 miles, traversed 7 lakes, and bested 7 portages. Not even a rainy Sunday could stop them from enjoying a weekend full of fall colors!
The Annual HMC Welcome Weekend returned once again for 2024! Even though the weather did its best to hinder the trip, the club persevered and had an excellent time climbing at the lake. Many returning as well as new members enjoy the Railroad Amphitheater and Birthday crags. On top of climbing, those who went early Friday were able to enjoy a classic camping experience with swimming and cooking s'mores over the fire. The trip was topped off with a brat cook-out at Brittingham Park on Sunday once back in Madison.
No Sailing Experience Required!
This year's Commodore's Cup is a 6-day activity taking place during the last full week of August and culminates with a formal ball at the end. This event celebrates both the sailing and social aspects of the club and stems from delightfully wacky traditions formed during the typical doldrums due to lack of wind we experience in July.
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
Upcoming Events
T10 Engine Winterization
All, we need to complete engine winterization on Ratty and Siege.
The boats are at our winter storage facility which is located at W7169 Ramsey Road, Arlington, WI.
T10 Engine Winterization
All, we need to complete engine winterization on Ratty and Siege.
The boats are at our winter storage facility which is located at W7169 Ramsey Road, Arlington, WI.
HOC President Office Hours
Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?
Feel free to drop into my online office hours! I will have office hours every week on Monday from 3-4 pm and Wednesday from 11 am-12 pm. Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.
Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926
Gear Manager Office Hours
Come stop into the Gear Locker for our office hours. Test out, ask questions, get gear, or just come get to know us. Would love to see you stop by.
Outdoor Explorer Series: Cooking in the Outdoors
Join Outdoor UW for another informative course in the Outdoor Explorer Series (OES). Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure!
Cooking in the Outdoors
The focus of this class is all about planning, preparing, and showing techniques to cook healthy and nutritious meals while on remote backcountry camping trips. We will describe all that goes into executing meals for you and your friends while camping. This includes how to create a plan that provides flexibility for a multi-day camping trip. Shows participants how to set up a stove and walks through the process of cooking a backcountry meal. We also will describe and demonstrate some advanced techniques, such as backcountry baking, using fire for cooking, as well as sharing pro tips for those new to backcountry cooking.
Upon completion of this class, participants will:
- Understand the amount of calories that are being burned during outdoor activities
- Understand the basics micro and macro nutrients used to build a recipe
- Describe the value of a well rounded nutritious diet that offset energy expenditure
- Envision ways to plan and prepare ration based on the trip and participants
- Learn about the types cooking supplies needed to cook in the backcountry
- Learn about ways to cook in the backcountry and practice with cooking tools
--- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge on the water lever of Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) ----
*** If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation for this course, please contact our Dan Dunne, ddunne@wisc.edu ***
Hoofer Riding President Office Hours
Meet with the Hoofer Riding Club President for any questions, concerns, or information about the club you would like to know!
Will be located in OUW office. Email me at ridingpresident@hoofers.org if you need access or would like to set up another time.
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Femme+ RRG Waitlist
Hi y'all,
The waitlist was a bit wonky before, so if you are looking to add yourself to the waitlist for the femme RRG trip, add yourself here. You will get an email if a spot opens up.
Cheers,
Alden
Halloween Trail Run on Lakeshore Path! Run in costume!!
Start off your Halloween with an awesome trail run on lakeshore path! Come in any costume of your choice and run 4-5 fun & casual miles. We'll meet outside the boathouse at Memorial Union at 8am, do a quick stretch circle, and then get running! Open to any and all runners :) Can't wait to see all of your epic costumes on Halloween!
Femme+ Red River Gorge Trip
Join Our Femme Mountaineering Trip to Red River Gorge!
Are you part of our femme mountaineering community and ready to tackle some epic routes at the Red this fall? Come join us for our annual femme trip to Red River Gorge from October 31st to November 3rd! We’ll be camping at Miguel's Pizza and departing in a university fleet vehicle later in the afternoon on the 31st.
Requirements:
- A sport climbing rating is required to attend. Due to high demand, if your sport rating is not obtained at least two weeks before the event, your spot will be given to someone on the waitlist.
Cost:
- A $5 deposit is required at the time of sign-up. The total cost of the trip will be around $30-$40, to be paid afterward. Please note that meals are not provided. We will stop briefly at a grocery store on the way down for any last-minute items.
Further details will be shared in the pre-trip meeting.
Feel free to join us at Red River Gorge if you prefer to drive your own car!
Cheers!
Advanced Dinghy Classroom
Event Information: This two hour classroom lesson will cover a variety of topics on small-boat-sailing and other general information to help new sailors hone their skills and progress into the more advanced fleets. Topics covered include:
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Physics of sailing
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Effective use of sail controls
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Heavy wind sailing considerations
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Effective seating positions and hiking techniques
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Right-of-way rules
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Introduction to sailboat racing
Instructors will endeavor to leave time at the end of the lesson to answer individual questions.
Location: Check the Today in the Union website or the digital signs in Memorial Union on the day of the lesson. Note that the event start time may appear earlier on the TITU listing but will begin at the time shown here. If the event does not appear on the TITU listing, please go to the Outdoor UW Office and speak with the staff to determine the event location.
Prerequisites: This Classroom lesson is intended for students who are working toward or have already obtained a Tech Light or Zest Light Rating. Attending this course and having earned either a Tech or Zest Light allows members to take lessons in the Advanced Dinghies (Laser, Byte, and 420).
Students who take this lesson will receive an Advanced Dinghy Classroom Attendance rating. This rating, along with a Tech or Zest Light rating, will allow a student to sign up for 420, Laser, and Byte lessons.
Post-Lesson Resources:
Security
Security is the process of stowing our equipment and locking up the Club for the evening. By signing up for this lesson, you will be awarded volunteer hours for the time you are there.
Security can start 30 minutes before Lake Rescue and Safety closes, and fifteen minutes before Outdoor UW closes.
Click here for the security checklist (short version).
Click here for the security checklist with pictures (with more details).
If you have any issues during your security shift or are unable to complete a task, please fill this form.
Reach out to the Head of Instruction with any questions or notes.
Note for Event Leaders: Once an instructor has signed up as event leader for a security event, the evening is their responsibility, and if they become unavailable they are expected to find someone to replace them.
Location: Meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
PAYMENT - Spooky Porcupine Mountains Backpacking Adventure
Please fill out the health and safety form and submit your payment here!
GRAND OL’ CANOEING TRIP UP IN DA UP @ SYLVANIA BUD!!! OH YAH BEST TRIP BUD OH YA UP IN DA UP BUD!!!
****THIS TRIP WILL OPEN FOR SIGN-UP AT 8PM ON MONDAY 10/28*****
What’s up Hoofers?!?! We will be leading a backcountry canoeing trip to the Sylvania wilderness in the UP! We cannot wait to head up der this weekend and enjoy the fall colors and crisp air!
The trip has a maximum capacity of 5 participants and each and every one of them is required to attend the mandatory pre-trip meeting on Tuesday (October 29) at 8:00 PM (directly after the general meeting).
A canoe orientation and provisional swim test are required for this trip. The cost for the trip will be ~ $35 (subject to change) and this will include transportation, food, and good ol’ times. Payment will be collected at the pre-trip meeting via Venmo (preferred) or cash.
**Disclaimer: this trip will involve some very cold nights. We will discuss this in detail at the pre-trip meeting, but be prepared for possible winter conditions.**
ITINERARY:
Friday:
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Arrive at Memorial Union by 11
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Pack gear and leave union by 12
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Arrive at Sylvania by 4:30 PM
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Short canoe to first campsite and dinner
Saturday
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Paddle 5-7 miles to our next campsite!
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Eat snacks and see nature
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Have fun!
Sunday
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Paddle back (~1 mile) to cars
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Pack up and drive home
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Arrive in Madison by 4:00 PM
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Clean gear and go home