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
Ratty Lift In!
Hey, Let's splash a T10!
Meet down at the lakefront, we'll spend some time readying Ratty for Lift In. We are targeting getting her under the crane by 10:30.
After she is in the water, we will get her rigged and get some sails loaded. Maybe take her for a quick shakedown sail.
No experience is necessary. We will be painting and checking the engine - so wear clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty,
"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats". - Ratty, "The Wind in the Willows"
Light Keelboat Lift-In
Lift-in for the first few light-keelboats. Crane operations starting at 10:00 a.m.
Come help get the boats ready for the water! - Rigging and securing to moring!
Intro to Dinghy Sailing
Event Information: This three hour on-land lesson will cover the basics of sailing and introduce you to two of the Hoofer Sailing Club’s introductory boats, the Badger Techs and RS Zests. Instructional topics will include boat vocabulary, basic sailing principles, knots, and rigging (setting up) both types of boat. Students will not be in boats during this lesson and are welcome to wear regular clothes instead of sailing clothes.
Location: This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, or if there is inclement weather, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Prerequisites: Ground School Attendance Rating.
Students who take this lesson will be issued the Intro to Dinghy Attendance Rating
Post-Lesson Resources:
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:
Salam Lift-In
We are lifting our beloved keelboat Salam off her trailer and right into the lake using the crane.
We will meet at the yellow canopy (the deck next to the Lake Lab), get the boat ready, and proceed. We will plan on getting craned in by 2 pm.
After the boat is in the water, we will do some rigging, deck washing, rig tuning, engine ancrobatics, and if we are lucky, we may go on a short shakedown cruise.
This is a work party and things may get messy so dress for the job.
Work hours will be assigned.
Prerequisite: Ground School.
Hoofers x Gilda x AMOM
Hey Hoofers!!
We have a cool opportunity to collaborate with Gilda (cancer support community) and AMOM (A Moment of Magic) for a cross-over event. We get to go to the Gilda facility and teach kids from the Madison community how to do simple outdoor activities like setting up a tent, packing a pack, making a fire, and different types of knots, etc. It will be a super fun way to get younger kids interested in the outdoors and practice your teaching skills.
Because we will be working with kids with cancer it is REQUIRED to attend virtual training on May 3rd from 6-7 before the event.
Windsurfing Work Party
Hi All,
This Saturday from 1pm-4pm a number of us will be down at the Lake Lab adding the various touches needed to the windsurfing fleet to get back on the water, including rigging sails and checking booms. No windsurfing experience is necessary, and all help is greatly appreciated!
Work hours will be rewarded (see this link for the refund rates).
Cheers,
Jim and Patrick
P.S. In the event that the weather doesn't cooperate, we've set aside Sunday as our backup day, again from 1pm-4pm. Having said this, the current weather forecast shows Saturday with a high of 66F, cloudy, with 7 mph winds from the S, so Saturday will probably the day things happen.
P.P.S. For those unsure of how to thread the Chinook opposed pulleys used in downhauling, which is admittedly a bit tricky, you may want to watch this new video which we just recently made (and/or this older video which is a bit more theoretical).
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.
Turnover Lake Jump
Howdy newly appointed and current/exiting HOC exec members!
This is the annual turnover lake jump (slightly after May 1st) for EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. No need to sign up, just meet in Mendota Lodge at 10:00am, wear a bathing suit or something you can get wet, water shoes, and bring a towel. Woohoo!
Laser Work Party
Let's get our boats ready for the season and give them a tune up for racing!
We will be waxing and polishing boats, moving thrm to the T-Dock and getting the spars and lines sorted out l. Bring clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes.
Don't worry if you can't make it for the entire work party. All help is welcome!
We'll meet at the lake front (yellow canopy or at the laser racks).
Intro to Badger Sloop Sailing (On Land)
Event Information: This lesson will cover the basics of sailing and introduce you to the Badger Sloop. Instructional topics will include boat vocabulary, basic sailing principles, knots, and rigging (setting up) the boat. Students will not be in boats during this lesson and are welcome to wear regular clothes instead of sailing clothes.
Location: This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, or if there is inclement weather, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Prerequisites: Ground School Attendance Rating. Please read the Badger Sloop Manual prior to this lesson.
Students who take this lesson will be working toward earning their Sloop Light rating. The Sloop fleet uses a series of skill check-off ratings (Rigging, Crew Overboard, Landing, Boat Handling) to help keep track of proficiency. Once all of the check-off ratings have been earned by a student, they will be issued a Badger Sloop Light rating. It is recommended that students take this lesson once, followed by a Badger Sloop Lesson two to three times to earn their skill check offs and eventually Badger Sloop Light rating.
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.
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.
Intro to Dinghy Sailing
Event Information: This three hour on-land lesson will cover the basics of sailing and introduce you to two of the Hoofer Sailing Club’s introductory boats, the Badger Techs and RS Zests. Instructional topics will include boat vocabulary, basic sailing principles, knots, and rigging (setting up) both types of boat. Students will not be in boats during this lesson and are welcome to wear regular clothes instead of sailing clothes.
Location: This lesson will meet under the yellow canopy next to the lake lab. If you are unable to find your instructor, or if there is inclement weather, please check in with the Outdoor UW Office.
Prerequisites: Ground School Attendance Rating.
Students who take this lesson will be issued the Intro to Dinghy Attendance Rating
Post-Lesson Resources:
Canoe Orientation
This lesson is an introduction to canoeing. No prior experience is needed at all!
WHAT IS THIS LESSON
This is the Canoe Orientation, also known as the Canoe Lake Lesson. It is the prerequisite to most other canoeing events in the Outing Club.
This lesson will teach you:
- what is a canoe
- basic canoe vocabulary
- how to fit a Personal Flotation Device (PFD, or "lifejacket"
- how to fit a canoe paddle
- how to get in and out of a canoe while it's floating
- paddling a canoe
- basic paddle strokes, and generally getting the boat to move in the direction you want it to
- discussion of how to deal with a capsized canoe
- optional capsize of a canoe if we have time (it can be fun!)
- Hoofer-specific policies for boating and Lake Mendota checkout
ELIGIBILITY:
Participants do not need any prior experience and do not need any prior ratings at all to attend.
Participants need to be a current member of the Hoofer Outing Club.
Participants need to meet the first six essential eligibility requirements as specified by American Canoe Association: https://americancanoe.org/eec/
WHERE TO MEET:
Please meet at the outer entrance to the Outdoor UW boathouse in the lower level of Memorial Union. It's a large garage door facing the lake, where the canoes and kayaks are kept.
WHAT TO BRING:
Dress in clothing that is ok to get wet, and wear shoes that won't fall off if you are swimming.
Dress in clothing that is suited to outdoor exposure- remember your sun hat and/or sunscreen if you want those.
I highly recommend a glasses strap if you are wearing glasses.
Bring a towel and a change of clothing, just in case we get wet (though we are not necessarily planning to get wet).
A waterbottle is a good idea.
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:
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!