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
Elections for Commodore, Vice-Commodore, or Rear Commodore will be held between Tuesday, March 21 and Monday, March 27. Information about the canidates will be posted on the website. Be sure to check the Elections page for updates.
Outing club members have been taking weekly trips to Quarry Park here in Madison to enjoy some all-weather biking on fat tire bikes!

Members of our clubs worked to earn their Wilderness First Responder certification, learning how to perform emergency medicine and how to best take care of their fellow outing members when out in the wilderness!

Our Winter Sailing Seminars are a great way to expand your horizons during the winter months. The seminars are open to the community and no prior sailing experience is required; you do not need to be a current member of the sailing club to attend. Feel free to invite your landlubber friends!
See more here!

HMC's annual Halloween trip to Red River Gorge! This trip was focused on sport climbing. The Red River Gorge in Kentucky has some of the best sport climbing in all of the US, there are routes for all types of climbers! And camping at Miguels, a classic climber camp spot for RRG!
Upcoming Events
Outdoor Explorer Series (Introductory Course): Backcountry Nutrition and Ration Planning
Join Outdoor UW for their new Outdoor Explorer Series. Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure!
Intro to Backcountry Cooking and Nutrition
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
Bouldering Social
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Hello Mountaineers,
This bouldering social event will take place weekly starting this Tuesday, January 31st, at Boulders Climbing Gym Downtown. If you do not have a membership, there is a possibility that some of the other participants of this event could share their guest passes, but those will be in limited quantities.
Hope to see you there!
HOC Candidate Forum at Mem. Union (Mendota lodge)
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Hey folks!
This Meeting is dedicated to introducing the Outing Members who are running for the positions of President, Vice President of Trips, Vice President of Instruction, and Treasurer. You can read more about each candidate and vote here: (to be updated)
I look forward to seeing you all there!
Lily Mass
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.
Wilderness Canoe Trip Interest Group Meeting
I am planning to lead a wilderness canoeing river trip in Ontario, Canada this summer.
This meeting is gather input from interested parties on the duration, location, costs, skill level, and goals of the trip.
There is no need to sign up for this meeting, just show up.
The Physics of Sailing | Winter Sailing Seminars
Event Information: Have you ever wondered exactly how a sailboat works? How is it possible to sail into the wind? Which forces cause a sailboat to move and which forces slow it down? In this seminar, we will dive into the physics of sailing, starting from the basics and moving our way through discussions of force balancing and fluid flow. No math or physics background is needed.
Our Winter Sailing Seminars occur weekly and cover a variety of nautical topics. The seminars are open to the community and sailing club membership is not required.
This year we ask participants to bring at least one non-perishable item per seminar to be donated to the Lussier Community Education Center. Most needed items include: olive oil, vegetable oil, maple syrup, sugar, flour, jelly/jam, pancake mix, paper towels, toilet paper, & baby wipes. Get more ideas from their Food Pantry Donation Wish List.
Please see below for a detailed list of this season's dates and topics.
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.
2023 Winter Sailing Seminars:
January 12 (Thursday): Sailing the British Virgin Islands with Max Slesarev
January 18: Building Your First Boat with Jo Reis
January 25: Spray's New Panel and Marine Electronics with Michael Litzkow
January 27 (Friday): Bareboating in Croatia with Pete & Christine Keuler
February 1: Sail GP - The Greatest Show on Water with Philip Tietze
February 8: Weather in the Great Lakes region with Ian Beckley
February 15: Limnology of Lake Mendota with Mark Gahler
February 17 (Friday): Sailing to the Virgin Islands and back with kids and a dog with Daniel Rogge
February 22: Nautical Communication with Mark Gillespie
March 1: Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing with Dave Elsmo
March 8: Introduction to Marine Four-Stroke Engines with Mills Botham
March 15: Advanced Racing Tactics with Dave Elsmo
March 22: The Physics of Sailing with Sam Norrell
Reel Rock 17 - Hosted by Hoofer Mountaineering and WUD Film!
Hoofers Mountaineering and WUD Film will be hosting a free showing of Reel Rock 17 at the Union South Marquee Theater!
1308 W Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53715
It will take place on March 22nd from 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm. There will be freebies to give away! You don't want to miss this event!
We have sponsors from the following amazing community businesses
- Boulders Climbing Gym
- Fontana Sports
- Summit Strength and Fitness
- Devils Lake Climbing Guides
Please signup below as it helps us get a head count! Share with your friends! The event is totally free and open to the community and you can win awesome prizes!
Please email any questions to events@hoofermountaineering.org
February Lesson Fees - HRC
Karolina Blando, Dante Munn, Elaine West, Ashley Haggard, Hailey Stiles, Hannah Wahl
1 lesson x $40/lesson = $40
Hoofer Mountaineering President Office Hours
Hello Mountaineers!
Have questions, ideas for the club, or want to earn gear ratings? Stop by the Mendota Lodge on Thursdays anytime from 4:00-5:00PM to chat about all things related to Hoofer Mountaineering, or unrelated.
If you have additonal questions, please feel free to email me at mountaineering@hoofers.org!
Cheers,
Claire
BLT Live Session
Another Live Session to get you leading your dream trips!! This is the live session you must attend!
Remember to
1. Complete the Canvas Course! Email instruction@hooferouting.org and ask to be added to the self paced leadership training course! You can take all the time you need, but this MUST be completed before you attend the live session!
2. Attend the Live Session Training! (THIS POST) Email instruction@hooferouting.org if the times don’t work for you
3. After the canvas course and live session - be a Leader In Training on a trip!
4. Find your dream location, plan your dream trip, and lead your dream trip!
You MUST complete the Canvas Course to ATTEND the Live Session. You do NOT need to have it completed to SIGN UP for the Live Session.
Location: Mendota Lodge (subject to change)
Hope to see you there!
Caroline
Bouldering Social
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Hello Mountaineers,
This bouldering social event will take place weekly starting this Tuesday, January 31st, at Boulders Climbing Gym Downtown. If you do not have a membership, there is a possibility that some of the other participants of this event could share their guest passes, but those will be in limited quantities.
Hope to see you there!
HOC General Meeting Spring Break Story Share at Mem. Union (Mendota lodge)
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Hey folks!
Join us to hear from our spring breakers about their trips! 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.
Post Spring Break Backpacking Trip Planning Leader Social
Howdy folks!
I hope everyone had an awesome spring break! Now that we're back, let's look forward to the rest of the spring. After the big SB trip reports general meeting, let's take advantage of that post-spring break high and start planning spring trips. We'll start after the general meeting ends and you can leave as early or as late as you want! If you're a backpacking leader then come hang out with other cool backpacking leaders and plan some cool trips. Who knows, there may be food! Don't worry about signing up, just bring your nature-loving selves!
A few things that may help the planning process that you can do in advance but are not required:
- Figure out what weekends or single days work for you. Take a look at your assignment and exam schedules to find a couple of dates that are open for you.
- Pick locations where you want to visit. Lead a trip to the top place on your bucket list! Someone else may want to go to the same place as you or have advice if they've been there before!
If you are a leader and don't have a trip in mind or don't think you want to lead a trip this spring, feel free to come socialize anyways. The more the merrier!! Also if you're a leader of a non-backpacking activity and you want to use this time to plan some trips feel free to stop by!
Happy Trails,
Gabe the Backpacking Chair
The Personal Power of Qi: A Revolution in Sports Psychology | Winter Sailing Seminars
Event Information: Through his adventures in sailing, Andrew O. Jackson takes us on a photographic journey and into the psychology of sailing on the North Shore of Lake Huron and racing on Lake Mendota. Because of his unique life experiences, he uses the world of sailing and the ancient eastern tradition of Qigong (the cultivation of energy) to develop a new psychology and symbiotic harmony between our mind, body, emotions, and consciousness and Nature’s raw power, strength, beauty… and yes, her love… all in a universe of quantum reality.
Our Winter Sailing Seminars occur weekly and cover a variety of nautical topics. The seminars are open to the community and sailing club membership is not required.
This year we ask participants to bring at least one non-perishable item per seminar to be donated to the Lussier Community Education Center. Most needed items include: olive oil, vegetable oil, maple syrup, sugar, flour, jelly/jam, pancake mix, paper towels, toilet paper, & baby wipes. Get more ideas from their Food Pantry Donation Wish List.
Please see below for a detailed list of this season's dates and topics.
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.
2023 Winter Sailing Seminars:
January 12 (Thursday): Sailing the British Virgin Islands with Max Slesarev
January 18: Building Your First Boat with Jo Reis
January 25: Spray's New Panel and Marine Electronics with Michael Litzkow
January 27 (Friday): Bareboating in Croatia with Pete & Christine Keuler
February 1: Sail GP - The Greatest Show on Water with Philip Tietze
February 8: Weather in the Great Lakes region with Ian Beckley
February 15: Limnology of Lake Mendota with Mark Gahler
February 17 (Friday): Sailing to the Virgin Islands and back with kids and a dog with Daniel Rogge
February 20 (Monday): Bareboat Chartering: Cutting the tie that binds us to Lake Mendota with Mark Tusler
February 22: Nautical Communication with Mark Gillespie
March 1: Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing with Dave Elsmo
March 8: Introduction to Marine Four-Stroke Engines with Mills Botham
March 15: Advanced Racing Tactics with Dave Elsmo
March 22: The Physics of Sailing with Sam Norrell
March 29: The Personal Power of Qi: A Revolution in Sports Psychology with Andrew O. Jackson
Hoofer Mountaineering President Office Hours
Hello Mountaineers!
Have questions, ideas for the club, or want to earn gear ratings? Stop by the Mendota Lodge on Thursdays anytime from 4:00-5:00PM to chat about all things related to Hoofer Mountaineering, or unrelated.
If you have additonal questions, please feel free to email me at mountaineering@hoofers.org!
Cheers,
Claire
April Open Water Referral Course
This 2023 April Open Water class includes academic online training, two indoor pool sessions, and a PADI referral form for completion of open water dives for one calendar year following the pool sessions. At the completion of this class, each student will receive a referral to complete their certification.
Course Overview
The April Hoofer Open Water SCUBA course consists of a self-paced eLearning web classroom where students learn about diving physiology and safety and the equiptment and skills needed by every diver. This is followed by two indoor swimming pool sessions where students are able to apply you new knowledge in a controlled environment. Students must complete the eLearning prior to the pool sessions (no exceptions). Students will attend a required orientation prior to the class where they will recieve the information about eLearning. Once the eLearning and the pool training session are completed, each student to receive a PADI referral form to be taken to any PADI course provider to complete the open water certification by completing the four open water dives.
Course Fee
The course fee of $340 includes your PADI Open Water Referral, pool dives, professional instruction by PADI instructors, all course materials, including access to eLearning, dive log and training record, and the use of all SCUBA equipment and tanks needed for class. You will also need to purchase a membership in Hoofer Scuba which costs $48 per year for students and includes heavily discounted gear rentals once certified. The fee is paid when you sign up for the course to the Hoofer Scuba Club online or at Outdoor UW Service desk at the Memorial Union.
We recognize that this is an expensive course, but hope that you understand the immense value and unique experience that SCUBA is and know that certifications last for life. There are no additional hidden fees or costs. You will still need to complete open water dives which you will pay for when you sign up for those. They are usually around $100 total. Then you will become a completely certified PADI Open Water Diver.
Prerequisites and Enrollment Conditions
You must attend the meeting at the dive shop and all pool sessions to gain a referral. No make-up sessions can be offered. If during the course under special circumstances you find you cannot attend one of the dates, please let us know ASAP so we can work something out.
We follow the PADI health requirements, a copy of all the medical conditions that may require a physician's approval to be cleared for diving will need to be filled out under the PADI medical form. You will fill out the medical form when you meet with your instructors at the dive shop prior to the pool sessions. Note, if you have one of these conditions, it does not necessarily bar you from diving. It does mean we would need a doctor to sign off that you are medically cleared for diving. If you do answer yes to any of the questions found on the form, please seek physician approval and provide the form to the event leader or your instructor. If you are not cleared, but have already started or completed the online portion, we can only offer a partial refund.
It is essential that course participants have strong basic swimming skills and be comfortable in the water. PADI requirements include a basic swim test and treat-water test. If you do not pass the swim test, we can only offer a partial refund of course fees. See below for more details.
eLearning must be completed according to the schedule directed by your instructor. You will receive the link for signing up for eLearning upon meeting with the instructors at the dive shop.
Course Refunds
Once the course has commenced, we do not offer any refunds past the first pool session, eg. if you decide that you can't make one of the dates! If you decide after the first pool session that SCUBA is not for you, then we can offer you a partial refund of the course cost less the cost of materials, and a prorated fee for the portion of the class that you attended.
For safety, individuals not able to satisfactorily perform all required skills in the pool will not be permitted to participate in the open water training. Our instructors will make every effort to assist you in becoming a certified diver, but certification is not guaranteed.
Participants must be a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, faculty/staff, or Wisconsin Union member. Union membership is open to everyone. Call 608-262-2263 or visit www.union.wisc.edu/membership to sign up for Union Membership.
There will be a required orientation date on March 8th where you will try on gear and complete medical forms. More information will be provided to those who sign up.
eLearning: Completed on your own schedule after the orientation.
Pool Sessions: 4/1/23 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM and 4/2/23 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM at the Nicholas Recreation Center Pool on campus.
Kohler Stables Barn Tour
We will be going to tour the historic Kohler Stables in Kohler, WI. The tour will cover the grounds, we will get to see new foals, and a driving demonstration given by the barn manager. This is a great opportunity to see what a top notch equestrian facility looks like inside and out!
Outdoor Explorer Series (Introductory Course): Backpacking on a Budget
Join Outdoor UW for their new Outdoor Explorer Series. Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure!
Intro to Backpacking
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
Bouldering Social
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Hello Mountaineers,
This bouldering social event will take place weekly starting this Tuesday, January 31st, at Boulders Climbing Gym Downtown. If you do not have a membership, there is a possibility that some of the other participants of this event could share their guest passes, but those will be in limited quantities.
Hope to see you there!