From 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.
The Hoofer Outing Club is an outdoors education and recreation club with a diverse membership of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Members plan and lead trips in Wisconsin and around the country, instruct lessons, oversee purchase and upkeep of club equipment, and coordinate all aspects of club operations.
When you join the Outing Club, lessons are free and most equipment use is included; trip costs are usually only gas, food, and camping expenses. You can join in on a trip or lead one yourself! Trips are announced on the website calendar, through our email list, or at one of our weekly meetings at the trip leader’s discretion.
How to Join
1. Create your Account!
When you're ready to join, 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.
2. Sign Up for Events!
Once you've joined the 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!
For more information, click the button below!
Contact Us
Hoofer Outing Club
Memorial Union, Lower Level
800 Langdon St.
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1630
info@hooferouting.org
Contact Us
News
Hey Hoofers! Come join Isabel Rojas-Viada and your fellow Hoofers in sparking a dialouge about big mountain climbing. She will be showing photos and telling stories of her climbing experiences on Aconcagua - the highest summit in South America! Bring your most adventurous self!
Upcoming Events
ACA Sea Kayak New Instructor Training - June 18-20, 2019 Lake Superior
ACA Sea Kayak New Instructor Training - June 18-20, 2019 (Good for Relatively New Sea Kayakers)
My goal is to develop skilled paddlers, instructors, and leaders. Here are a few more opportunties.
Level 1 or 2 (see below) would work well for relatively new paddlers/leaders - this is for you! [Level 3 or 4 (see this link) is for those with more solid experience.]
The American Canoe Association (ACA) is the industry standard for paddle sports in North America and is a recognized standard worldwide.
Why: ACA training/certification in paddling, teaching, safety, and leadership skills is essential and highly valued for those who intend to work and/or play in the outdoors. Here is your opportunity close to home in one of our favorite Great Lakes. This training trip will occur on Lake Superior near Cornucopia, WI.
Aspiring Instructors: Although I won't be attending this event, I would encourage those of you who are interested in receiving Instructor training and certficiation to please contact me to help prepare or if you have any questions. I will help coordinate boats/gear for those who choose to participate.
Please sign up on the wait list if you are sincerely interested. Final participant list will be at the leader's discretion. Space is limited.
Required Gear: Those who participate would have access to club sea kayaks and club gear. I will review these details with the final participants.
Required Skills: Strong SK1 skills (or better) and standard swim test are required before the trip. You will need to practice skills. Pool sessions and other training opportunities are on the calendar to help you develop those skills.
This is a terrific opportunity to learn and earn in one of the sea kayaking national treasures - the shoreline of Lake Superior.
A. Level 1-2: Instructor Certification Workshop - June 18-20, 2019
This workshop is a combined IDW & ICE, which means that within these three days you may certify as an instructor at level 1 or level 2.
https://www.lostcreekadventures.org/acacert
Let's go! :-)
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
Combination lake lesson / R1
You must have completed the swim test before this trip. That is the only prerequisite. The lifeguards at the Memorial Union swimming pier are able to conduct swim tests. Please visit the Outdoor UW office to get details on how to complete your swim test.
I can open this to a few more participants if we get more drivers. This event is primarily for getting Outdoor UW staff updated on Outing ratings, but we may have a bit more space to fit more boaters. Sign up on the wait-list, and I will expand the trip as we are able to haul more boats. The limit will probably be six participants, unless I can find another instructor.
Meet at the boathouse at 12:30pm on Thursday June 20th. We will drive to a local small river; either Badfish or Black Earth Creek most likely. Will return in the evening.
We will cover lake lesson essentials, including wet exits, strokes, and rescues, then move to R1 skills. I hope to bring both kayaks and canoes to this event, but we will focus on kayaks first. If time allows, I would like to then run the section again in canoes, covering the R1 skills.
R1 skills: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MHcPVknxweXlAot_40ZBr3tez7v33QnN3-ygPyaHtks/edit?usp=sharing
Please recognize that the R1 is not a guaranteed outcome of the trip; we will introduce the concepts, but earning the rating will require demonstrating both understanding and boat control to execute the maneuvers.
Please bring:
- shoes that will stay on your feet when swimming. While I prefer closed-toed shoes, a sport sandal like Chacos will work as long as it has a sturdy sole and stays on.
- clothing that is appropriate for being in and out of the water frequently (bring warm-when-wet layers if it is cold or windy)
- a change of dry clothing, including shoes if needed
- a towel
- a bag to contain your wet stuff
As always, weather permitting.
Paddling to Picnic Point
Hey all! Weather permitting, we'll be paddling out to Picnic Point and back on Thursday the 20th. Meet at the boathouse at 5pm (earlier if you're able!) and we'll pick out our sea kayaks or canoes, paddles, PFDs, etc. The water temperature is already 66 degrees, but if you think you'll get cold, there are club wetsuits that we can use. There are day-use lockers that you can rent from the Outdoor UW office as well. We need to be back before sunset (which is 8:40pm), so we'll be back at the boathouse at 8:30pm at the latest. Please plan on sticking around to help clean up.
Please bring the following: Proper paddling clothing or swimsuits (NO cotton!), Shoes that stay on when wet, water bottle, towel and change of clothes for afterward
Optional: Snacks, Sunscreen, hat and/or sunglasses with straps, nose plug, goggles
If the weather doesn't cooperate (i.e. blue flag or higher and the lake isn't closed) then we'll stay in the pier area and practice our paddling skills (assuming you have the proper ratings)
HOC Weekend of Instruction
Hi everybody! We are going to be putting on a Weekend of Instruction event for the Hoofer Outing Club where members can come participate in paddling lessons, earn ratings, and learn new skills!!!! This event is very beneficial to new and old paddlers and HOC itself! We'll be having A TON of lessons for all of our boats, so if you are a newer member looking for any of the basic paddling ratings to go on some water-based trips, this is the event for YOU!
The plan is to do it the weekend of Friday June 21 - Sunday June 23.
Here are the lessons/ratings that you will be able to participate in:
Swim Tests (required for all paddlers)
Kayak Lake Lessons (first step for all kayaking)
SK0 (Sea Kayak)
SK1 (Sea Kayak)
Canoe Lake Lessons (first step for all canoeing)
And possibly a short moving water R1 canoe trip (opportunity to become a paddling leader in the club)
If you need any of the above ratings or want to refresh your skills, please sign up for this event so we can gauge interest!
Once lessons are done, we could play some paddling games, or we might even head out to picnic point for a celebratory bonfire!
For any instructors/leaders who are interested in leading lessons for this event:
We will be sending out a concrete schedule of lessons for leaders to sign up for, and once we have the right amount leaders for a lesson, it will get added to the official schedule for the weekend. This should hopefully be done within a week, so lookout for some emails from us about that.
This event is completely free for members! There will be free lunches each day!
Stay tuned, more information coming soon!
Evan Fernandez & Emma Johnson
Ice Age Trail Building
Ice Age Trail Mobile Skills Crew Trailbuilding Event
Cross Plains Ice Age Interpretive Site, Dane County
Training is provided by certified volunteer crew leaders and all participants get free meals and (for those working with us for multiple days) a free place to pitch a tent.
No experience is necessary. All Abilities are welcome.
We will leave from the Park Street Circle, Friday, June 21st at 5:00 pm. and return to the Park Street Circle by 1:00 pm on Sunday, June 23rd. (The Park Street Circle is located at the end of Park St., next to the Memorial Union.)
Please sign up on this website and also at https://iceagetrail.z2systems.com/np/clients/iceagetrail/eventRegistration.jsp?event=510&
Camp setup option is tent. Task is trailbuilding. Meals-Check Friday dinner, all Saturday and all Sunday meals. Arrival time is 6 pm Friday. In the comment box write "Hoofer Outing Club".
Cost: $2 for gas.
If you have any questions, please email me or call me.
Chris Jacobsen
JacobsenChris@msn.com
608-873-2016 (voice only)
Experienced Beginner Whitewater Weekend!
Join Ted and Bryan for a weekend of running whitewater rapids in the northwoods of Wisconsin!
This trip will be geared towards whitewater kayak paddlers with an R2 or above rating wishing to improve their paddling skills. We will spend a lot of time working rapids by eddy hopping our way down, surfing as many waves as we can, and maybe even spinning on a few rocks.
If you are a kayak paddler with an R1 rating wishing to join us please email Bryan (bawathen@wisc.edu). If there is sufficient interest in a more beginner trip we will change our plans and I will open it up to those with an R1 rating.
Our plan:
-Meet at the Union Friday evening ~5pm to load gear and leave Madison.
-Camp at either Bearpaw camp ground or Hooferland Friday and Saturday night
-Paddle beautiful whitewater rivers Saturday and Sunday
-Return to Madison Sunday evening ~8-10pm
Cost:
~$15-20 for group meals
~$20 for fuel
~$0-10 for camping
~$10-15 for dinner on the way up on Friday and back on Sunday
$40-60 Total
We will determine a more precise cost once we know how many will be attending.
What you need to bring:
Synthetic under layers
Water shoes that will not come off when swimming
Water bottle/s (at least 1 liter, ideally 2)
Dry cloths
Rain jacket
Hat
Gloves
Shoes that can get muddy
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad (optional)
Pillow
Camp chair (optional)
Flashlight
Bug net
Bugspray
Sunscreen
Camping plate and/or bowl
Eating utensils
Hygiene stuff (ie tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, etc..)
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
2019 Door County Sea Kayak Symposium - July 11/12-14, 2019
2019 Door County Sea Kayak Symposium - July 11/12-14, 2019 (Arrival to Door County evening of July 11)
This symposium is sponsored by Rutabaga and hosted at Rowley's Bay Resort in beautiful Door County. This is a chance for Hoofers to paddle sea kayaks on Lake Michigan in a beautiful setting and to get quality mentorship/training outside of the club and to bring their skills back to the club. I have attended before, and many other club members have either attended or instructed at the symposium. Pleae feel free to ask us about our experience. If you intend to register and attend, please contact me to coordinate boat and gear. Given the scheduling and costs involved, I am posting early to enable folks to plan and coordinate boat, gear, and lodging. I am also hoping that this will motivate you to develop skills through the club to enable you to make the most of the experience.
What’s it about? Watch this video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y2ga_7EgN8
Door County Sea Kayak Symposium Website:
http://www.paddlers.com/everyonepaddles/page.asp?pgid=1016
When: July 11/12-14, 2019 (Participants often arrive on the evening of July 11 to be ready to participate on July 12.)
Where: On Lake Michigan at Rowley Bay Resort in Door County, WI. ~ 5hrs drive from Madison.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.2191311,-87.1664569,11z
Rating Required:SK1 and up (If you need help deciding if this is a good fit for you, please feel free to contact me directly by email.)
Why's it so great: This symposium offers dozens of courses organized by skill level. It is run by ACA and BCU certified instructors and covers every aspect of sea kayaking. You choose your own class schedule based on skill level. There are land and water-based instructional courses as well as guided expeditions around Lake Michigan. Some examples of instructional classes are Greenland paddling, Navigation, and Surf & Waves. Guided trips are both full and half-day. You have the choice of skill-builder trips where rescue scenarios are mixed with the expedition, or you can strictly do touring.
Skill level descriptions will be on the website and instructors will be double checking your abilities. So, choose what you think is the most appropriate level. If you intend to register and attend, please contact me to coordinate boat and gear and if you would like help choosing classes/trips. The full schedule and details for registration should be available in December 2018.
Cost: You are responsible for symposium and lodging costs (below) and food (some meals are provided by symposium).
You will need to register through the symposium’s website and pay registration fees (more info below). If you intend to register and attend, please contact me so I can help coordinate boat and gear. Using Hoofers Club Gear makes this much more affordable.
When you look at the variety of guided expeditions and instructional opportunities the value goes a long way. If you need sea kayak equipment we are approved to use Hoofer equipment. This saves the expense of having to rent boats/paddles/skirts.
REGISTRATION/FEES (will be updated in December 2018)
Symposium Details and Registration
http://www.paddlers.com/everyonepaddles/page.asp?pgid=1016
Scheduling: You have the choice to attend 1, 2, or all 3 days. Cost varies upon how many days you sign up for.
Below are the prices from 2018. These may change slightly when the details are updated.
Before April 15th
3 day: $350/person
2 day: $320/person
1 day: $240/person
After April 15th
3 day: $380/person
2 day: $350/person
1 day: $260/person
LODGING: There are rooms available at Rowley's Bay Resort. You can also camp at Wagontrail Campgound and have the choice of bringing a tent (your own or through the club) or a reserving a yert. Links are below.
Rowley's Bay Resort:
http://rowleysbayresort.com/
Wagontrail Campgroud:
http://www.wagontrailcampground.com/
Camping hiking biking & swimming at Point Beach on Lake Michigan
Join Chris and I for some camping at the Point Beach state park in Two Rivers Wi. Point Beach has a large beautiful beach on Lake Michigan just north of Two Rivers Wi. We plan to bring our bikes, there are several trails both along the waterfront and in the wooded Point Beach Forest. We also will spend time on the beach and water. There is also the West of the Park Garden in nearby Manitowoc that we plan to visit. Club has camping gear if you need it. The cost will most likely be about $40 to $50 per person. Plus the cost of food. More details will follow as we get closer to that date. This is a Tuesday thru Friday trip.
No ratings of any type are needed for this trip. Anyone is welcome.
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
2019 Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium - July 17-21, 2019
2019 Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium - July 17-21, 2019
2019 Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium - July 17-21, 2019 (Grand Marais MI)
https://www.greatlakesseakayak
Grand Marais was picked as the location for this symposium for its protected harbor with easy access to the open waters of Lake Superior and it’s proximity to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The town also has an amazing beach in the harbor and on the exposed Superior shore. The historic village of Grand Marais is at the eastern gateway to Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore.
This is a chance for to paddle sea kayaks on Lake Superior in a beautiful setting and to get quality mentorship/training outside of the club and to bring their skills back to the club. I have paddled here before as have many other club members. Pleae feel free to ask us about our experience. If you intend to register and attend, please contact me to coordinate boat and gear. Given the scheduling and costs involved, I am posting early to enable folks to plan and coordinate boat, gear, and lodging. I am also hoping that this will motivate you to develop skills through the club to enable you to make the most of the experience.
Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium Website:
https://www.greatlakesseakayak
When: July 17-21, 2019
General Schedule:
https://www.greatlakesseakayaksymposium.net/great-lakes-sea-kayak-symposium/schedule/
Where: On Lake Superior in Grand Marais MI (Upper Peninsula along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) ~ 6hrs drive from Madison.
Rating Required:SK1 and up (If you need help deciding if this is a good fit for you, please feel free to contact me directly by email.)
Why's it so great: This symposium offers several courses organized by skill level. It is run by ACA and BCU certified instructors and covers every aspect of sea kayaking. You choose your own class schedule based on skill level. There are land and water-based instructional courses as well as guided expeditions around Lake Superior. Some examples of instructional classes are Navigation, and Surf & Waves. Guided trips are both full and half-day. You have the choice of skill-builder trips where rescue scenarios are mixed with the expedition, or you can strictly do touring.
https://www.greatlakesseakayaksymposium.net/great-lakes-sea-kayak-symposium/courses/
If you intend to register and attend, please contact me to coordinate boat and gear and if you would like help choosing classes/trips.
Cost: You are responsible for symposium and lodging costs (below) and food (some meals are provided by symposium).
You will need to register through the symposium’s website and pay registration fees (more info below). If you intend to register and attend, please contact me so I can help coordinate boat and gear. Using Hoofers Club Gear makes this much more affordable.
When you look at the variety of guided expeditions and instructional opportunities the value goes a long way. If you need sea kayak equipment we are approved to use Hoofer equipment. This saves the expense of having to rent boats/paddles/skirts.
REGISTRATION/FEES
Symposium Details and Registration
https://www.greatlakesseakayak
$395.00
Includes: 4 days of coaching, welcome dinner Wednesday, Grand Marais High School fundraising pasty dinner Saturday and all evening social gatherings.
LODGING: There are indoor lodging options and outdoor camping right near Lake Superior. You can also camp at Woodland Park Campgound and bring a tent (your own or through the club). Links are below.
https://www.greatlakesseakayaksymposium.net/great-lakes-sea-kayak-symposium/lodging/
https://www.grandmaraismichiga
http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/WoodlandPark/woodland-park.php
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
Sea Kayak Trip Leadership Training - July- Apostle Islands Lake Superior
Sea Kayak Trip Leadership Training - Apostle Islands Lake Superior
Tentative Dates: July 26-August 1, 2019 (This is a general window to be finalized soon.)
Pending interest and water safety approval, I plan to co-lead a training trip opportunity to earn:
(A) ACA Sea Kayak Trip Leader Certification.
(B) ACA Knowledge/Skills Assessment (prior to the trip)
My goal is to develop skilled paddlers, instructors, and leaders.
The American Canoe Association (ACA) is the industry standard for paddle sports in North America and is a recognized standard worldwide.
Why: ACA training/certification in paddling, teaching, safety, and leadership skills is essential and highly valued for those who intend to work and/or play in the outdoors.
Here is your opportunity close to home in one of our favorite Great Lakes. This training trip will occur on Lake Superior in the Apostle Islands National Shoreline.
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***Focus of Leadership Training:
This opportunity is in conjunction with a multi-day trip in the Apostle Islands. The Trip Leader Training/Certification provides more focused training on trip planning, risk and incident management, safety, weather, navigation, and trip/group management. This is the industry recognized training designed for sea kayak guides on the Great Lakes and beyond.
Leaders: I will be co-leading this training trip with an ACA Instructor Trainer.
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Please sign up on the wait list if you are sincerely interested. Final participant list will be at the leader's discretion. Space is limited by island campsite capacity and by leadership safety considerations.
**Make sure to answer each of the questions.**
Required Gear: Those who participate would have access to club sea kayaks and club gear. I will review these details with the final participants.
Required Skills: Strong SK1 skills (or better) and standard swim test are required before the trip. For those seeking ACA certification, you must also pass an ACA skills assessment before the trip. You will need to practice skills. Pool sessions and other training opportunities are on the calendar to help you develop those skills. Personal fitness is very important for a multiday trip like this.
Costs: Will be determined based on number of participants. Given the training component, this will cost more than a typical club trip. I expect those who participate will also commit to teach and lead others in the club. You must deminstrate a commitment to lead and serve others.
This is a terrific opportunity to learn and earn in one of the sea kayaking national treasures. Let's go!
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
Camping High Cliff state park & MILE of MUSIC festival Appleton Wi.
Camping, hiking, boating, and the best free music festival ever. Dennis Mossholder, Chris Jacobsen and I are leading a trip to the High Cliff state park on Lake Winnebago during the same time period as the 7th annual Mile of Music festival in nearby Appleton Wi. August 1st – 4th 2019. We have a group campsite reserved for 3 nights and 4 days. The plan would be to canoe or and kayak on Lake Winnebago or the nearby Fox river in the mornings and early afternoons and then go the Mile of Music fest. The music fest is along a one mile stretch of College Ave. Last year’s event had over 200 original artists playing at 70 different venues and over 900 sets over the 4 days. Music included 19 genres from Alternative to Folk, Bluegrass, Soul, Punk and Pop Rock etc. The event highlights homegrown talent and recruited the best emerging artists from all over the U.S. and even internationally. Come for all 4 days or part of the weekend. Cost for some food and gas and camping site will most like be around $75 per person. You will need additional money for food at the festival. Bring your own camping gear or use club gear. We currently have plans for 3 cars going but let me know if you can also drive if needed. Thursday, Aug 1st through Sunday, Aug 4th 2019. Sign up today. Trip deposit will be collected in July 2019.
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!
General Meeting
Summer meetings will be a rather informal oppurtunity for Outing Club members to get together and talk about recent trips, upcoming trips, and other general announcments. We will also proabably spend some time dreaming up the next big andventures the club will tackle in the coming weeks/ months. See you in the Mendota Lodge on the first floor of Memorial Union!