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
Once again, the club successfully made its annual trip to the Red. Participants had the amazing opportunity to climb at crags in Muir Valley, North Gorge, Miller Fork, and Pendergrass-Murray preserve, while also camping at the infamous Miguel's Pizza
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.
Upcoming Events
INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL!!
Hello Hoofers!!!! Want to join a super awesome basketball team with fellow hoofers? Sign-up for this event, and you will get an email for the link to sign up once our spot in the league is finalized!! (NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED) Don't have an intramural account yet? Click here to read how to set one up: https://recwell.wisc.edu/intramuralsports/
Games will be every Thursday, at 6pm at the Bakke, starting November 7th!
SIGN UP FOR OUR TEAM HERE: https://fusionplayprod.page.link/r1fD
HMC General Meeting: T Shirt decorating!
Howdy everyone,
This week, I am excited to announce that we will be doing an arts and crafts social at our general meeting. Instead of staying at home watching the sun go down far too early in the day, come on down to the Mendota Lodge at 7PM this Thursday! We wil be getting creative with some appliqué, paint, and fabric glue to decorate some shirts :)
This event is open to the general public, so feel free to bring your friends.
Sewing Machine Intro — Craft a Burgee!
Get started on your way to repairing sails and sewing canvaswork—such as sail covers, boat covers, sheet bags, etc.—by learning about sewing machines, and crafting your own Hoofer Sailing Club burgee! This 2-session class will (tentatively) consist of:
Session 1: Learn about the mechanisms that make a modern, lockstitch sewing machine work; how to wind a bobbin; how to thread the machine; the importance of thread tension; types of needles and presser feet; straight and zig-zag stitches. Practice sewing seams and hems.
Session 2: Apply your knowledge from session 1 to craft a burgee: Hem the base fabric; apply decorative stitches to attach the red fabric for the 'W', white fabric for the star; and trim them to shape. Then, apply flag tape along the fly (edge next to the flag pole), and install brass grommets. The result is a real burgee that you can take home to hang on your wall, or fly on your boat.
The goal of this class is to start training a group of club members who will have the skill to use an industrial sewing machine to take on a list of projects to make the club's boats better: sail repairs, new main sail covers, repair or replace covers for the scow fleet, or recycle old sails into useful items, like tote bags.
P.S. Fair warning, we might ask you to pay it forward, and help teach other folks these skills, too!
Beginner Sport Clinic @ the Sett
Come join me for a beginner sport clinic! We will be covering clipping, belaying, and hanging draws. If you are comfortable with at least two of these three things, please lookout for an intermediate clinic. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR TOP ROPE RATING.
Bonne Terre
Join Us for an Exciting Weekend of Scuba Diving at Bonne Terre, Missouri!
The Scuba Club is organizing a thrilling weekend getaway to Bonne Terre, Missouri from November 8th to November 10th. We’ll be exploring one of the world’s most unique diving locations—a historic underground mine turned cavern dive site! This is a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow divers, experience stunning dives, and enjoy a fun-filled weekend.
If you are signing up for this event please complete this form: https://forms.gle/u3ori14GV5nFmxZn6. Do not fill out this form if you are not going to sign up - the data you input will be sent to the dive shop to get you registered for the Scuba Dives! Only once you fill out this form, register below for the dives!
Event Highlights:
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Location: Bonne Terre Mine, Missouri
Dive deep into illuminated underground passages filled with crystal-clear waters, stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient artifacts. This one-of-a-kind cavern dive will make for an unforgettable experience. Learn more: https://bonneterremine.com/diving
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Dive Plan: 4 scuba dives over the weekend, with each dive revealing more of this breathtaking labyrinth of tunnels and geological formations.
Event Details:
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Housing: We'll be staying in a cozy Airbnb for 12 people for 2 nights (November 8th & 9th)
Cost: $135 per person for the full stay. -
Transport: We’ve organized transport to and from Bonne Terre.
Cost: $100 per person. -
Scuba Dives: 4 amazing dives, professionally guided, and set in the crystal-clear waters of Bonne Terre Mine.
Cost: $390 per person.
Total Cost: $625
Please note: You must be Open Water Certified to participate in the dives.
Hike and Brew - Outdoor UW Special Event - OPEN TO ALL - No membership required
Spend your evening hiking outdoors and at the Terrace. Enjoy the leisurely hike in Picnic Point with our fun, energetic staff who will guide you on all the knows of the land all the way back to Memorial Union. After the hike, hang out with your new hiking friends and enjoy a beverage (using a $10 gift card provided by Outdoor UW) on the terrace (or in the Rath if it is too chilly) and enjoy some live music! Those 21 and over can enjoy an alcoholic beverage, so please bring your ID! Those under 21 will have just as much fun and can enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage!
Meet-Up Location/Logistics:
The Outdoor UW Crew will be meeting participants at the Picnic Point entrance gate located at 2000 University Bay Drive, and ending the hike at Outdoor UW (800 Langdon St).
The entrance of Picnic Point is located at 2000 University Bay Drive next to the B-Cycle parking/bike racks, Lot 130 Parking, and Bus Stop # 2881 ‘University Bay & Picnic Point (EB)'. Madison Metro route #80 is free and will take you from Memorial Union to Picnic Point. More info can be found here: https://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/visit/getting-here-and-parking/
*** Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event.
**** If you have any questions or concerns, or if you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation, please contact our manager, ouwmanager@union.wisc.edu ****
Cancellation, Reschedule, and Refund Information
Participant Cancellation: When canceling at least 1 week before the event, a full refund will be possible (if the participant submits a refund request form). Within a week of the event, Outdoor UW staff reserves the right to give full, partial or no refund on a case by case basis.
Outdoor UW Cancellation:The event will be cancelled 24 hours in advance if inclement weather or poor lake conditions exist. In the event of a cancellation, full refunds will be issued. Refunds will not be issued if participants cancel within 24 hours of event.
Food and Equipment Information:
Some food may be provided for some these events (if indicated above), please let staff know before the event if you need us to make a reasonable food sensitivity or allergy accommodation for you.
Equipment/ Gear Required by Participant:
Equipment will be provided. Participants must dress accordingly and be prepared for variables seasonal weather conditions.
Minnesota Hockey Game
The Wisconsin Hoofers are attending a Wisconsin Men's Hockey Game vs. Minnesota! This is a Hoofer-wide social that is open to members of any Hoofer club while tickets are available.
[11/9 SATURDAY] SPORT SOCIAL @ HILLBILLY HOLLOW
Sport social at Hillbilly Hollow on Saturday! This event is only for transportation--if you have a car and are willing to drive people, please let us know! We'll be able to bring more people (and pay less for fleet vehicles) and will appreciate you forever and ever.
We'll meet at the Memorial Union Parking Circle at 7:30am, drive to Hillbilly Hollow, crush some routes, and head back latest ~6:00pm (return time is flexible).
If you need to borrow gear or get a sport rating, please reach out to the gear managers before Saturday. Bring lunch!
Intro to Horse Shows Clinic
Interested in horse showing but don't know where to start? Join us for an introductory lesson from a rated hunter/jumper judge on everything you need to know, from how judging works to what to wear to how to walk a course and everything in between! There will be a braiding demo as well along with coffee and snacks!
Transportation will be provided to Breakaway Farm (~25 minutes).
The clinic will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
$15 per person.
Hope to see you there!
HOOFER OLYMPICS SPECTATOR
The Hoofer Olympics will take place on Saturday, November 9th at 1 pm at James Madison Park. There will be an individual team winner, but the club with the most overall points (HOC vs HMC) will receive ultimate bragging rights and the Olympic trophy until the next Olympics. Sign-up for this event so we can get adequate numbers for food, and come cheer on the Outing Club!!
Madison Marathon Volunteering
Even if you aren't running, you can still be part of the action at the Madison Marathon! They are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help create an unforgettable experience. They need course marshals to guide runners, bike escorts to ensure safety, and energetic cheer teams to motivate participants along the route. Your support will make a significant difference in the success of the event and foster a sense of community spirit.
Email volunteer@madisonfestivals.com to sign up!
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
Queer Climbing Night at Boulders Downtown
Calling all LGBTQ folks and allies!
Meet up at Boulders Downtown for Queer Climbing Night! This social is all about community-building and creating a safe space for all members and nonmembers affiliated with Hoofers. Come for part of the time or the whole thing; there are no requirements for this event!
If you have any friends that may be interested, they are more than welcome to come! And, if you do not have a membership, Boulders sells day passes for $25, OR another attendee may have a guest pass that they are willing to let you use.
This event will repeat on the second Monday of every month, but if people are interested, it can be more frequent!
Looking for more Queer Climbing Socials (QCS)? Boulders hosts their own QSC on the first Sunday of the month, and you can check that out here. (This event is free for Boulders members and pay-what-you-can, typically $10 including rentals, for everyone else)
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at mountaineering@hooferambassadors.org
Cheers!
HOC General Meeting
Whether you're a returning member or new to the club, this is the perfect chance to dive into the vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts at UW-Madison. We’ll introduce you to the exciting trips, workshops, and social events we have planned, including opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, and more. Whether you’re attending with friends or on your own, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow adventurers. Learn how you can get involved, meet like-minded people, start planning your outdoor escapades, and gear up for a season of exploration and fun in the beautiful outdoors!
LOCATION: The meeting will take place in the Mendota Lodge. It is a beautiful room right across from the OutdoorUW offices. From the Terrace, you can walk down the stairs towards the lake and take a left turn where you should see large glass windows looking into Mendota Lodge. If starting from inside Memorial Union, locate the Wheelhouse art studios on the west end of the building, walk down the stairs, turn right, and walk all the way down the hallway.
Sewing Machine Intro — Craft a Burgee!
Get started on your way to repairing sails and sewing canvaswork—such as sail covers, boat covers, sheet bags, etc.—by learning about sewing machines, and crafting your own Hoofer Sailing Club burgee! This 2-session class will (tentatively) consist of:
Session 1: Learn about the mechanisms that make a modern, lockstitch sewing machine work; how to wind a bobbin; how to thread the machine; the importance of thread tension; types of needles and presser feet; straight and zig-zag stitches. Practice sewing seams and hems.
Session 2: Apply your knowledge from session 1 to craft a burgee: Hem the base fabric; apply decorative stitches to attach the red fabric for the 'W', white fabric for the star; and trim them to shape. Then, apply flag tape along the fly (edge next to the flag pole), and install brass grommets. The result is a real burgee that you can take home to hang on your wall, or fly on your boat.
The goal of this class is to start training a group of club members who will have the skill to use an industrial sewing machine to take on a list of projects to make the club's boats better: sail repairs, new main sail covers, repair or replace covers for the scow fleet, or recycle old sails into useful items, like tote bags.
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: Backpack Like a Pro
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!
Backpack Like a Pro
Have you ever been interested in learning about what backpacking is all about? Have you ever wondered why is it popular, how do people get into it, where do they go, what do they need, is it possible to backpack and still be comfortable out there? Come to this class and get these questions answered so you can get ready for your first backpacking trip of the season.
Upon completion of this class, participants will:
- Learn about what backpacking is and why it is a popular outdoor activity
- Learn about the gear and supplies needed to backpack effectively and comfortably while also creatively thinking of substitutions they have that can be used in place of high-end/expensive gear.
- Learn how to effectively pack a backpack
- Learn about local areas that will be good spots for your first backpacking trip and what time of year is the best to visit these location
- Get hands on practice with packing a backpack
--- 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 ***