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! 

If you’re not looking to hike through the woods with a 50-pound pack, car camping offers an awesome frontcountry adventure! Come to this introductory car camping course to learn more about the essentials of car camping. This course will give you the necessary tools to car camp with confidence! 

Upon completion of this class, participants will: 

• Learn the ins and outs of parking in campgrounds and obtaining permits
• Learn about various safety measures 
• Learn about alternative housing situations
• Learn what gear is needed to have a successful trip 

Hey folks!

Join us every Tuesday night for our Hoofer Outing Club general meeting! 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!

Hey Hoofers!

Let's meet again after the General Meeting on Tuesday to talk more about Spring Break! If you are planning a trip or interested in planning a trip, find me in Mendota Lodge after the General Meeting to start brainstorming and planning those trips! 

See you there!

Come chat with your Hoofer Council President (that's me!) about all things Hoofers! Questions, concerns, ideas, trip highlights - I'd love to hear from you. I will be available virtually or in-person four days a week:

1. Monday, noon - 12:30pm VIRTUAL (link below)

2. Tuesday, 2:45 - 5:45pm in Memorial Union at the OUW Program Office (Room B105, across from Mendota Lodge)

3. Wednesday, 10:30am - 12pm in Memorial Union at the OUW Program Office (Room B105, across from Mendota Lodge)

4. Thursday, 2:45 - 5:45pm in Memorial Union at the OUW Program Office (Room B105, across from Mendota Lodge)

If you can't make any of these times, reach out to me via email and I'm happy to set up a meeting outside my regular hours.

Zoom Link:

 https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/96861180610?pwd=R29zY0FrZUxhS3NmZUNsd0hxTmk0UT09

If you anticipate using a FLEET/DOA VEHICLE to tow a Hoofer-owned trailer at any point this fall or winter, then attend this class to get your trailer towing certification! This would include towing a sailboat for lift-out, towing the horse trailer, towing the alpine ski trailer, or possibly towing the outing club canoe trailer. Please note that if you cannot make this full class (or do not have your fleet authorization completed yet), there will be 2 other trainings offered in the future each semester. FLEET AUTHORIZATION WITH WISCONSIN HOOFERS IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRAINING. If you are fleet authorized with another UW department, you must submit paperwork with our office as well to become fleet authorized with Hoofers. There is no cost for the class. We will meet virtually for the first 30 minutes of the class (A link to the zoom meeting will be sent out the day before the class). After the virtual component of the class, we will take a short break to meet at LOT 60 (by the UW Hospital/ U-Bay Fields) to perform the hands-on portion of the training. Dress for being outside.

*** Having practiced driving a trailer before this class is strongly recommended because the hands-on portion of this training will provide no practice time, only provide you a chance to demonstrate competency in driving a trailer to attain the rating. ***

Description: The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is a 10-day long 80-hour course taught by NOLS Wilderness Medicine. The WFR course is designed to provide you with the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations. Classroom lectures and demonstrations are combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge you to integrate your learning. Learning takes place both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather conditions. Come prepared for wet, muddy, cold, or hot environments. Prerequisites: No previous first aid training is required. You must be 16 years old to attend this course. Certification: Participants are required to pass both written and practical examinations to obtain WFR and CPR certification. Successful course completion earns you a WMI Adult & Child CPR certification and a WMI Wilderness First Responder certification. EMTs will earn a Wilderness EMT certification. All certifications are current for two years. Find out how this course compares to other NOLS Wilderness Medicine certification offerings. 

Should I take the WFR or WFA? The WFA is a two-day course that primarily focuses on the basics of how to respond to an emergency situation in a remote area. This is perfect for people who are on remote day hikes or shorter trips with friends. This class really focuses on the Patient Assessment System and how to start making decisions on patient care. The WFR is a ten-day course that is the industry standard for outdoor professionals working in outdoor education and/or as tour guides. If you are leading a group in remote areas, this course can provide you with more in-depth knowledge and practice in dealing with a variety of first aid situations. 

Location: Primary classroom will be held at Memorial Union on 800 Langdon Street in Madison. We are not able to offer housing or camping for this course. There are hotels and hostels available nearby. Food is not provided but is available for purchase in the building and at nearby locations to Memorial Union. There is a refrigerator and microwave to chill and warm food. https://info.wisc.edu/plan-your-visit/ 

Hoofer Club Leader Scholarship/Grant: If you are a current Hoofer club member and are hoping to take on more leadership within your club you may qualify for a scholarship/grant to offset the cost of this course. Please submit your application as soon as possible by applying through the links on hooferleaders.org. If you are awarded the scholarship/grant you will receive a follow-up email with directions on how to register for the course using a discount code.      

* Several spots on this course will be reserved for Hoofer members. These spots will be released to the general public 1 month before the course start date *

There is a Wilderness First Responder course that is being offered through Outdoor UW. Check out the link here for all the information and to sign up! https://members.hoofers.org/event/83280 

Mark your calendars for the greatest Winter Hoofer trip of the year!

What: An extended weekend of cross-country skiing and cabin life in Bayfield County, Wisconsin!

Expect prime cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, eating, sauna-ing, warming huts, an excursion across a frozen lake, and general gallivanting in the frozen North.

You want to enjoy a post-ski round of Catan? That's cool, we can do that. Do you want to bake us all cookies? Please do! Do you want to melt in the sauna and then roll around in the snow? You got it. Ice caves? If we’re lucky! It’ll be a grand old time.

There are plenty of beginner-friendly skiing options and we can teach you the basics. Every location we ski at will have a warming hut. Check out the After Hours Ski Trail, Mt Valhalla, Mt. Ashwabay and The Birkie Trail.

When: Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Thursday morning (9 AM), Jan. 12th through Monday evening (6 PM), Jan. 16th, 2023. For folks who work, some cars will head up on Friday instead of Thursday. A car may be leaving from the Twin Cities on Thursday as well.

How: Driving 6 hours from Memorial Union to the town of Delta, WI.

Who: You! 18-27 Hoofers in 2-3 cabins over 4 nights.

What's included: Transportation, meals, lodging. The club also has cross-country ski and snowshoe gear for you to use!

What's not included: Meals on the drive, Thursday night dinner at the bar, breakfast on Monday, trail passes (~$5/day) (so bring cash).

Trip Deposit: $240 - We will send you an email with a link to the payment form.

If you have not yet, please fill out this Delta Lodge 2023 interest form: https://forms.gle/fzCizjYkBEJMGnjY8.

Description: The Wilderness First Responder Recertification (WFR-Recert) course is a 3-day 24-hour course taught by NOLS Wilderness Medicine specifically to recertify participants who are currently holding a Wilderness First Responder Certification. The WFR-Recert course is designed to refresh your skills and knowledge in making critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations. Classroom lectures and demonstrations are combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge you to integrate your learning. Learning takes place both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather conditions. Come prepared for wet, muddy, cold, or hot environments.

Prerequisites: You must be currently holding a Wilderness First Responder Certification or in your 1-year grace period. You must be 16 years old to attend this course.

Certification: Participants are required to pass both written and practical examinations to obtain WFR and CPR certification. Successful course completion earns you a WMI Adult & Child CPR certification and a WMI Wilderness First Responder certification. EMTs will earn a Wilderness EMT certification. All certifications are current for two years.

Location: Primary classroom will be held at Memorial Union on 800 Langdon Street in Madison. We are not able to offer housing or camping for this course. There are hotels and hostels available nearby. Food is not provided but is available for purchase in the building and at nearby locations to Memorial Union. There is a refrigerator and microwave to chill and warm food. https://info.wisc.edu/plan-your-visit/ 

Hoofer Club Leader Scholarship/Grant: If you are a current Hoofer club member and are hoping to take on more leadership within your club you may qualify for a scholarship/grant to offset the cost of this course. Please submit your application as soon as possible by applying through the links on hooferleaders.org. If you are awarded the scholarship/grant you will receive a follow-up email with directions on how to register for the course using a discount code.      

* Several spots on this course will be reserved for Hoofer members. These spots will be released to the general public 1 month before the course start date *

Welcome back for the spring semester! We are excited to introduce ice skating to the union. To kick things off, we will be hosting a jersey theme night. Come dressed in your favorite jersey and help us kick off a great semester!

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 for the event. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skate rentals will be available to those not registered to the events. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

Join our Outdoor UW 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 for the event. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skate rentals will be available to those not registered to the events. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

First year students new to UW-Madison are invited to come to Memorial Union and ice skate for FREE with Outdoor UW. Join us for an evening of connecting with your classmates and listening to some tunes as you glide across the lake ice. These 3 free skate nights are scheduled for 1/31/23, 2/17/23 and 2/28/23. Hope you can join us!

Ice stake rentals will be given to registered participants first. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skates will be given to those not registered. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

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 picnic point and back.  

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

Join our Outdoor UW 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 for the event. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skate rentals will be available to those not registered to the events. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

Bring your family down to Outdoor UW for a fun filled evening of skating (or snowshoeing if lake ice conditions make skating impossible)! This event will be filled with all the laughter, music, and games that your family needs to enjoy the Wisconsin Winter at Memorial Union. Our staff will teach you everything you need to know to get outside this winter. Beginners are welcome!

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 for the event. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skate rentals will be available to those not registered to the events. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

February is a frigid time of year. Will you embrace the cold, or wish for an early summer? Come dressed in your best fire or ice themed outfit and have fun skating on the lake.

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 for the event. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skate rentals will be available to those not registered to the events. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.

You'll Have A Ball!

Dance the night away (inside) after a day of play outside! Join us for an evening of music and dancing with a live jazz band and delicious hors d'oeuvres in the Great Hall at the Memorial Union. Formal wear is encouraged but not required.

If you have questions, email commodore@hoofersailing.org.

Join our Outdoor UW 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 for the event. After 10 minutes from the start of the event, skate rentals will be available to those not registered to the events. 

Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian at this event. 

***Limited sizes of ice skates are available. Skates are rented out on a first come, first served basis.