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
Club Leader Meeting
Hi folks!
We will be having a meeting on Monday 9/23 at 6-7 pm in the Mendota Lodge for all current club leaders.
Agenda:
1. Updates
2. LIT expectations for leaders and LITs
3. Demo on running trip payments through Club Manager (we will be fully transitioning to this in the future)
Exec board members and activity chairs are encouraged to come, all general trip/lesson leaders and LITs: please join!
Executive Board Meeting
These are required attendance for executive board members and open for general members to attend but not vote. Email our secretary at secretary@hooferouting.org to see the minutes or agenda.
General Meeting
Hey y'all,
Join us every Tuesday night for our general club meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet from 7 to around 7:30 pm in the Mendota Lodge. We will be discussing upcoming trips, telling stories of recent trips, and will have 10-minute fun time at the end of each meeting which will be anything from a mini lesson on knots to a bio on a groudnbreaking outdoor enthustiast. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
NEW MEMBER MEETING
**This is in replacement of our usual general meeting**
WHO: New club members
WHAT: Info session and meet-and-greet with activity chairs
WHERE: Mendota Lodge, Memorial Union
WHEN: 7-7:30 pm
Are you a new member looking for direction in life?? Join us for an info session about the different activities our club offers, how to become a trip leader, and how to get more involved in different club roles. Come with questions, friends, adventure ideas! The beauty of the Outing Club is that it is for you all as members to make it what you want it to be.
THERE WILL BE AN ICE CREAM BAR! Bring your own bowl/tupperware!
(Stay for the kayak interest meeting after, as well!)
Hope to see y'all there!
Sea Kayak Activity Group Meeting - Rivers, Lakes, Oceans, and Beyond!!
Sea Kayak Activity Group Meeting - Rivers, Lakes, Oceans, and Beyond!!
Question: What is a pirate's favorite alphabet letter and favorite type of kayak?
Answer: No - it's not the "rrrrrrrrrr..." It's the "sea"!
New members are welcome!!! Everyone, please sign up here!!!
The Sea Kayak Activity Group of Hoofers will meet on Tuesday September 24 in the Mendota Lodge of the Memorial Union - We will gather at 7:30pm until about 8:30pm.. (after the general meeting)
If you are (or wish to be) an active participant in our club sea kayaking activities, if you are simply curious about those long boats in the boathouse, if you wish to learn more about the places you can go on rivers, lakes, oceans, and beyond - please join our meeting!
My goals for this preliminary meeting are as follows:
(a) Brief recap of activities during the past year and summer.
(b) Identify trips, lessons, ideas, and opportunities for the coming semester and year. Examples Below:
*Does someone want to lead an Upper Wisconsin Dells Trip - perhaps in November? Please email me.
*More affordable access for club members to attend the 2020 Door County Sea Kayak Symposium.
*Upcoming trip ideas such as the Apostle Islands, Pictured Rocks, and the Coastal United States.
*Day trips and weekend trips near Madison - such as the upcoming Devil's Lake trip and the Lake Mendota camping trip.
(c) Continuing to Increase the community of paddlers who can lead and teach.
(d) Begin to identify someone to be mentored to eventually become a new sea kayak chair. (or co-chair) If you're interested, please email me directly.
(e) Improved boat care, each boat use for designed purposes, upcoming boat maintenance plans, and possible dates for boat repair gathering.
We have a strong fleet of sea kayaks. I'd like to discuss suggestions to reduce unnecessary damage to boats, and how to prioritize boat use based on trip type.
*I welcome additional agenda items for consideration. Please just let me know by email.
See you there!
-Michael
President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Leader Lounge about questions, ideas, or concerns you have about the club. If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Hoofer Open House
In lieu of our general meeting next Tuesday being replaced by the New Member Meeting, the Hoofer Open House next Thursday is a great chance to still see some Hoofers friends and catch a movie!
WHO: open to the public
WHAT: all 6 Hoofer clubs tabling in the Mendota Lodge, film screening of 'An American Ascent' at the Rath
WHEN: Thursday 9/26 4-7 pm, movie 7-9 pm
WHERE: Mendota Lodge, Rathskeller
FOOD: quesadilla bar, chips and salsa as vegan option, free popcorn from the Rath for the movie
'An American Ascent' is a film based on James Edward Mills' book The Adventure Gap, telling the story of the first all-African-American summit attempt of Denali. James will be there to introduce the movie at 7-7:15 pm, as he is a local journalist and is passionate about fostering discussion around what he calls the "adventure gap," referring to the lack of minority represenation and access to the outdoors.
No need to sign up here, but you can if you like, then folks can coordinate to attend together.
See Facebook event post HERE
Sea Kayak Rough Water Training & ACA Instructor Development - Lake Superior
Sea Kayak Rough Water Training & ACA Instructor Development - Lake Superior
Dates September (26) 27-30, 2019
(The training begins on Friday morning September 27 and concludes on Monday afternoon on September 30. Travel to arrive in Ironwood MI on Thursday night. Return to Madison on Monday evening.)
Leaders: I will be co-leading this training trip with an ACA Instructor Trainer.
My goal is to develop skilled paddlers, instructors, and leaders.
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 class size & lodging/campsite capacity and by leadership safety considerations.
This rough water sea kayaking event is for capable paddlers looking to advance their knowledge/skills of navigation, weather, wind, and waves to safely develop in more challenging coastal and open water environments. Points of emphasis will include adapting paddling skills to rough water conditions, safety/rescue skills, group leadership, and risk management.
Paddlers will benefit from expert ACA training on Lake Superior between the Bayfield Peninsula of Wisconsin and the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan. Venues include the Apostle Islands National Shoreline (including the Meyer's Beach Sea Caves), Porcupine Mountain State Park, and Black River Harbor. Each day will include an integration of classroom didactic instruction with on water training in conditions on Lake Superior.
Who: SK2p/SK2 rating, recent paddling in rough conditions, and standard swim test required. A strong SK1 with whitewater experience may also be possible. If you are sincerely interested, available for the specific dates, and are aware of the rough/cold conditions involved, feel free to contact me. (If you are solidly moving towards the SK2/SK3 and are interested (but not quite there yet), we can discuss on a case by case basis. I would be happy to discuss my previous experiences with you.)
Boats/Gear: Most of the needed boats and gear can be made available through the club. Please email me directly to make arrangements. Wetsuits with synthetic underlayers (your own), paddling jacket, helmet, and other essential personal paddling gear of pfd, spray skirt are required.
Personal Gear: Synthetic under-layers (no cotton), paddling gloves/pogies, thermal cap. A drysuit is strongly recommended. For a drysuit, I would highly recommend that you contact Kayak Academy and arrange to have a rental dry suit. (Details below.)
https://www.kayakacademy.com/p
https://www.kayakacademy.com/p
Future: I am hoping this type of training event provides an incentive for each of us to increase/improve our paddling and leadership skills.
Participants will have an opportunity to earn:
(A) ACA Sea Kayak L4 Skills Assessment.
(B) Training Leading to L4 Instructor Certification.
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.
------------------------------
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 class size & lodging/campsite capacity and by leadership safety considerations.
Costs: Will be determined based on number of participants. I expect those who participate will also commit to teach and lead others in the club. You must demonstrate 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!
Intro Kayak Lesson (Kayak Lake Lesson+SK0)
Sunday 9:00AM - 11:45AM Kayak/Sea Kayak Intro Combo Lesson - September 29th, 2019
(If another potential sea kayaker, leader, or instructor would wish to team up or assist me, please email me. We could then open up to more participants.)
Please only sign up if you are certain you will show up. Otherwise, please leave room for others. Thank you.
Please meet outside of Outdoor UW by the Outing Club Hoofer Sign at 9:00 am. We will review the plan for the day. Please arrive wearing a swimsuit and warm-when-wet clothing (no cotton) and water shoes or sandals that will stay on your feet when swimming. There may be an opportunity for the standard swim test after the lesson.
***Please bring sunscreen, a warm change of clothes and a towel, (please also eat well before arriving), and 1 liter or more of water to drink.
We will use sea kayaks for this Kayak/Sea Kayak Combo lesson.
In this lesson, we will learn the following.
(a) Boathouse and Lake Procedures and Rules
(b) Construction/Operation of Sea Kayaks
(c) How to efficiently hold the paddle and basic/intermediate paddling strokes to move the boat forwards, backwards, sideways (draw strokes), turning (sweep strokes), how use your hips/thighs to edge the boat to move the boat more efficiently (edging), and how to use your paddle to prevent capsize (bracing).
(d) How to exit the boat safely in the event of capsize (wet exit - you will get wet).
(e) How to upright your boat with assistance from a fellow paddler (the bow rescue - also called the Eskimo rescue).
(e) How to re-enter and empty water out of your boat with assistance from a fellow paddler (The T-rescue)
(g) Depending on the wind, we may likely paddle out beyond the mooring field.
(h) Use your new skills to play some games!
Successfully completing this lesson will earn the following ratings.
1. Kayak Lake Rating
2. SK0 Rating for Sea Kayak
This lesson will prepare you to enjoy many sea kayak trips and introductory white water trips.
Intro Kayak Lesson (Kayak Lake Lesson+SK0)
Sunday 1:00PM - 3:45PM Kayak/Sea Kayak Intro Combo Lesson - September 29th, 2019
(If another potential sea kayaker, leader, or instructor would wish to team up or assist me, please email me. We could then open up to more participants.)
Please only sign up if you are certain you will show up. Otherwise, please leave room for others. Thank you.
Please meet outside of Outdoor UW by the Outing Club Hoofer Sign at 1:00PM. We will review the plan for the day. Please arrive wearing a swimsuit and warm-when-wet clothing (no cotton) and water shoes or sandals that will stay on your feet when swimming. There may be an opportunity for the standard swim test after the lesson.
***Please bring sunscreen, a warm change of clothes and a towel, (please also eat well before arriving), and 1 liter or more of water to drink.
We will use sea kayaks for this Kayak/Sea Kayak Combo lesson.
In this lesson, we will learn the following.
(a) Boathouse and Lake Procedures and Rules
(b) Construction/Operation of Sea Kayaks
(c) How to efficiently hold the paddle and basic/intermediate paddling strokes to move the boat forwards, backwards, sideways (draw strokes), turning (sweep strokes), how use your hips/thighs to edge the boat to move the boat more efficiently (edging), and how to use your paddle to prevent capsize (bracing).
(d) How to exit the boat safely in the event of capsize (wet exit - you will get wet).
(e) How to upright your boat with assistance from a fellow paddler (the bow rescue - also called the Eskimo rescue).
(e) How to re-enter and empty water out of your boat with assistance from a fellow paddler (The T-rescue)
(g) Depending on the wind, we may likely paddle out beyond the mooring field.
(h) Use your new skills to play some games!
Successfully completing this lesson will earn the following ratings.
1. Kayak Lake Rating
2. SK0 Rating for Sea Kayak
This lesson will prepare you to enjoy many sea kayak trips and introductory white water trips.
General Meeting
Hey y'all,
Join us every Tuesday night for our general club meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet from 7 to around 7:30 pm in the Mendota Lodge. We will be discussing upcoming trips, telling stories of recent trips, and will have 10-minute fun time at the end of each meeting which will be anything from a mini lesson on knots to a bio on a groudnbreaking outdoor enthustiast. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Leader Lounge about questions, ideas, or concerns you have about the club. If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Pictured Rocks Backpacking Keyswap - Waitlist
Since the waitlist function isn't working for the main event (https://events.hooferouting.org/event/72024), feel free to sign up here. The leaders should be able to manually move you to the main event if someone drops out.
Please still fill out the Google form if you're interested: https://forms.gle/97sMGnkUVhsrzrai6
Day at the Lake!!!
Day at the Lake 2019!!!
This is an annual day trip to Devils Lake on Saturday October 5th. A must see if you’ve never been to this park
We have White Oak Shelter Researved as our base. We’ll bring boats to paddle. We’ll have a cookout. People can hike one of the States most beautiful parks.
The cost will be $10.00 per person I’ll collect this on the day of the event This will cover the cost of food, gas, and shelter rental. Let me or Jonathan know if you have any special dietary needs Bring water, snacks, and something easy to share for dessert if you would like.
When you sign up. Let us know if you can drive. Can you carry a canoe or a kayak?
Canoe users will need the canoe lake lesson. SKO rating for sea kayak users. All need the swim test rating to paddle Stay tuned for updates
No ratings needed for hiking, swimming or eating
Fall colors in the bluffs is awesome.
We’ll be able to expand the trip if we get enough drivers.
Executive Board Meeting
-
These are required attendance for executive board members and open for general members to attend but not vote. Email secretary@hooferouting.org to view the agenda and past meetings' minutes, in the future they will be accessible from the website.
General Meeting
Hey y'all,
Join us every Tuesday night for our general club meeting! These are free to the public, and we meet from 7 to around 7:30 pm in the Mendota Lodge. We will be discussing upcoming trips, telling stories of recent trips, and will have 10-minute fun time at the end of each meeting which will be anything from a mini lesson on knots to a bio on a groudnbreaking outdoor enthustiast. Our meetings are open to all who wish to be involved in the outdoors! See you there!
President Office Hours
Come and chat with me in the Leader Lounge about questions, ideas, or concerns you have about the club. If you would like to schedule a meeting outside of these hours, email me at outingpresident@hoofers.org.
Sea Kayak - Gales Storm Gathering - October (10), 11-13, 2019
Gales Storm Gathering - October (10), 11-13, 2019
When: October 11-13, 2019 (October 10 is optional but excellent, and is focused on paddling in current.)
What: A migratory Great Lakes sea kayaking event for advancing, intermediate and advanced paddlers. Paddlers will benefit from training with top sea kayak coaches from the the US and Canada.
Here is a recent video: https://vimeo.com/202539741
Where: Lake Superior near Munising, Michigan, and the St. Mary’s River at Sault St. Marie
Read: Details at the link below.
http://www.galesstormgathering.com
Cost: $495 (4 day); $425 (3 day) (These were the costs from last year.)
Who: SK2/SK3 rating, recent paddling in rough conditions, and standard swim test required. If you are sincerely interested, available for the specific dates, and are aware of the costs (not cheap) and rough/cold conditions involved, feel free to contact me.
Boats/Gear: Given the training of this event, most of the needed boats and gear can be made available through the club. Please email me directly to make arrangements.
Please Note: This is not a Hoofers trip, but an independent event that some members may have interest in attending. This posting is to facilitate planning and logistics for those who may wish to participate.
If you are solidly moving towards the SK2/SK3 and are interested (but not quite there yet), we can discuss on a case by case basis. I attended two years ago. I would be happy to discuss my experiences with you.
Future: I am hoping this type of training event provides an incentive for each of us to increase/improve our paddling and leadership skills.
Backpacking the Porcupine Mountains in the UP
HI! Ella and I will be leading a trip to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula, along with our wonderful LIT, Saige in the second weekend of October. The drive is a mere 5 hours and fun times will be had along it. More information to come. This trip will be beginner friendly if you are new to backpacking. Also all the gear you need will be provided! Only costs will be gas and food which we will get an estimate of soon.
More info to come! Reach out to Ella or I if you have questions. My email is astimmel@wisc.edu