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

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!
We had our annual pumpkin carving dive! Six brave divers endured the 52° to make some amazing pumpkins! We dove directly off the Memorial Union Terrace. In addition to carving some incredible pumpkins, we also picked up some trash from the lake that was near us!
Hello Hoofer Sailors,
Thanks for a great season of sailing with you all! Below are the dates for the end of season. If you are able, please volunteer for liftouts on Rechub.
- Light Keelboat fleet lift-out: 10/14
- Keelboat lift-out: 10/21(fri) & 29(sat)
- Last day for moorings: 10/30
- Pull Marina Docks: 10/31-11/7 *all hands*
- Last Day for Rentals: 10/23
- Last day for Sailing: 10/30
- Remove Moorings: Week of 10/31-11/4
- Move T-dock: week of 11/7

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
SNS Local Trips
Join fellow Hoofer SNS members on a trip to Tyrol Basin, just 40 minutes away in Mt. Horeb!
Pick up will be around 9:00am and we plan to leave the mountain around 5pm. Your trip leader will contact you to confirm pickup details.
SNS Local Trips -- Personal Transportation
Tyrol Basin Local Trip with personal transportation.
Particapants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Tyrol Basin.
Climbing Team Trial Practice
This is a free trial practice for anyone interested in being a member of the Hoofer Mountaineering Club Climbing Team this semester! Please only sign up for one of the two available trial practices (unless you are a driver of the carpool). If you would like to be driven to and from the gym or if you have a car and are available to drive others, please sign up for the carpool here: CARPOOL LINK (there is a Sunday tab and a Wednesday tab, please sign up on the correct sheet)
Note that there are a limited amount of carpool spots and a spot isn't guaranteed. Please arrive 30 minutes early to your designated carpool pick-up location if you are carpooling. The location of the practice is at Summit Strength and Fitness (3118 Kingsley Way, Madison, WI 53713). Please arrive 15 minutes early if you are arranging your own transportation. Bring climbing shoes and a chalk bag if you have them, otherwise shoes can be rented at the gym.
Practice will be two hours long, lasting from 1-3pm on Sunday, February 5th. This practice is meant to give you a feel for what team practices will be like throughout the semester, come excited to meet new climbers and improve your technique!
Winter Kiting B: Harness - Hoofers
Event Description: The lesson will review kite flying techniques and cover safe usage of a kiting harness. Students will work in pairs with the guidance of their instructor to practice these skills. Students should come prepared with warm, comfortable clothing. Warm, waterproof shoes with good traction are recommended. You do not need to bring skis or snowboard; there will be no riding.
Prior to attending this class, students should review the Winter Kiting Manual and the following videos:
- Safety Systems
- Depower systems
- Launching and Landing
- Heavy Air Instructional Video
- Kiteboarding Safety Precautions - Though this video uses a water kiteboarding example, the information is equally applicable to snow kiting.
- Survival in the Ice
Location: This lesson meets at Memorial Union in the Mendota Lodge, across from the Outdoor UW Office in the Hoofer hallway. Kiting will take place on Lake Mendota.
Prerequisites: Winter Kiting A rating
Students who take this lesson will be working toward earning their Winter Kiting Harness (B) rating. It may take several lessons to achieve proficiency in the skills that constitute the rating. Ratings are issued at the discretion of the instructor.
Full Moon Winter Hike
Explore the Lakeshore Nature Preserve with Outdoor UW under the full moon. Grab your friends and peruse the path with our Hiking leaders to learn about the portions of campus that have explorable outdoor landscapes and how you can get active outdoors this winter. All are welcome for this very beginner-friendly hike out to the picnic point and back.
Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event.
***If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation, please contact our Assistant Manager, outdooruwam@union.wisc.edu
Hoofer Council President Office Hours
Come chat with the Hoofer Council President! Whether you have questions, concerns, ideas, or Hoofer highlights to share, drop by virtually or in-person at the Outdoor UW Leader Lounge (B302, located across from Mendota Lodge in the lower level of Memorial Union - ask the front desk staff if you're having trouble locaing it). All virtual office hours can be accessed using the zoom link at the bottom of the page.
Weekly office hours and location:
Mondays
- 10:00-11:00AM VIRTUAL
- 2:00-5:00PM Outdoor UW Leader Lounge
Wednesdays
- 10:00-11:00AM VIRTUAL
Thursdays
- 11:30AM-4:30PM Outdoor UW Leader Lounge
Zoom link: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/4707506035 // If you are unavailable during these hours, reach out via email (president@hoofers.org) to schedule a meeting.
Practicing Gratitude with Rec Well
Experiencing the winter blues? Looking to boost your mental health? Join Rec Well for an hour of practicing gratitude! Learn how gratitude increases happiness, try out different ways to express gratitude, and explore simple ways to implement gratitude into your daily life. Registration is required.
This event is open to those 18 years and older. For any questions, please contact Erica Fischer (erica.fischer@wisc.edu).
Check the TITU board for room location.
Learn to Skate with Outdoor UW & Rec Well
Join the Outdoor UW and RecWell staff to learn how to skate on Lake Mendota! This event is specifically designed for folks who have never ice skated before and are looking for a gradual and supportive way to try it out. Our staff will go through all that you need to know about this fun and active way to get outside with friends and family this winter and enjoy the ice! If you need a helping hand in your first attempt at ice skating, come spend an hour with Outdoor UW and learn how to skate.
Skate rentals are available at $5 for students per hour and $7 for non-students per hour.
Skate rentals are available first to those registered (below) for the event. 15 minutes BEFORE the event begins we will call down the list of those registered to select their skates. Once those who are registered for the event (and present before the event begins) have their skates, rentals will be available to those not registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event.
<<< PLEASE COME 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT TO ALLOW TIME TO BE FIT FOR SKATES >>>
***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first-come, first-served basis.
***If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation, please contact our Assistant Manager, outdooruwam@union.wisc.edu
Avalanche Awareness Workshop
Aspiring backcountry travelers. Always wanted to explore snowy mountainous terrain? Gain an introduction to the avalanche phenomenon, causes, and risk, and begin to recognize and avoid avalanche terrain. Learn more about the gear, resources, and training to responsibly enjoy winter recreation.
Check the TITU board for room location.
Create Golf Course for Winter Carnival
We will be building a mini-golf course and chipping zone where Winter Carnival attendees can come putt around and practice their short game on the ice. We need volunteers to help us build the courses. We will be out on the ice and working with water, so wear something warm and semi-water resistant!
If you're interested in participating in the event once it's built, sign up here members.hoofers.org/event/90943.
Mindful Snowshoeing on Lake Mendota with Rec Well
Enjoy a gentle snowshoe on frozen Lake Mendota while you’re led in a guided wintertime mindfulness practice. *Snowshoes and trekking poles will be provided to all registered participants, although you may bring your own. No previous experience snowshoeing required. We recommend that all participants wear warm layers and insulated, waterproof boots.
Snowshoe renters need to be 18 .
*Limited trekking poles are available to participants. Trekking poles are given on a first come, first serve basis.
For any questions, please contact Lee Weintraub (ljweintraub@wisc.edu).
Mini Golf Attendant
Hoofer Sailing Club will be building a mini-golf course and chipping zone where Winter Carnival attendees can come and putt around and practice their short game on the ice. We need volunteers to hand out clubs and balls to participants, and to collect them again at the end of their outing.
If you are interested in golfing yourself, sign up here: members.hoofers.org/event/90943.
Ice Mini Golf with Hoofer Sailing Club
Putt around and practice your short game on ice presented by Hoofer Sailing Club.
A Tee-rific Hit on Ice! Hoofer Sailing Club will be building a mini-golf course and chipping zone where Winter Carnival attendees can come and putt around and practice their short game on the ice. This event is free and registration is required.
No experieince is necessary. Please bring your Student ID or Driver's License to the Outdoor UW office located on the Lower Level of Memorial Union to check out clubs and golf balls. Participants are welcome to putt around at any point during the event.
SNS Local Trips
Join fellow Hoofer SNS members on a trip to Tyrol Basin, just 40 minutes away in Mt. Horeb!
Pick up will be around 4:00pm and we plan to leave the mountain around 9pm. Your trip leader will contact you to confirm pickup details.
SNS Local Trips -- Personal Transportation
Join fellow Hoofer SNS members on a trip to Tyrol Basin, just 40 minutes away in Mt. Horeb!
You are responsible for transportaion to and from Tyrol Basin.
Pick up your ticket from the trip leader near rentals/group sales at 5PM.
Trip leader will also text you to confirm your coming and information so you can find them!