Whether you're a returning member or new to the club, this is the perfect chance to dive into the vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts at UW-Madison. We’ll introduce you to the exciting trips, workshops, and social events we have planned, including opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, and more. Whether you’re attending with friends or on your own, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow adventurers. Learn how you can get involved, meet like-minded people, start planning your outdoor escapades, and gear up for a season of exploration and fun in the beautiful outdoors!

LOCATION: The meeting will take place in the Mendota Lodge. It is a beautiful room right across from the OutdoorUW offices. From the Terrace, you can walk down the stairs towards the lake and take a left turn where you should see large glass windows looking into Mendota Lodge. If starting from inside Memorial Union, locate the Wheelhouse art studios on the west end of the building, walk down the stairs, turn right, and walk all the way down the hallway.

Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?

Feel free to drop into my online office hours! Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.

Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926

Swing by if you have questions, concerns, or want to chat!

Join Outdoor UW for another informative course in the Outdoor Explorer Series (OES).  Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure! 

Unleash the Explorer in You! 

Join us for Best Local Outdoor Trips to Explore Wisconsin class designed to elevate your outdoor exploration skills in the beautiful landscapes surrounding Madison, The State of Wisconsin, and throughout the Midwest. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a nature enthusiast eager to discover hidden gems, this class is your gateway to unlocking the wonders of the great outdoors.

Unleash the explorer within and join us for an hour of discovery, where every step is a journey and every moment is an opportunity to connect with the natural wonders of the Midwest. 

--- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge on the water lever of Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) ----

*** If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation for this course, please contact our Dan Dunne, ddunne@wisc.edu ***

THIS TRIP WILL BE OPEN FOR SIGNUP THURSDAY 10/3 AT 8 PM!! PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY.

Due to high demand we are using a lottery registration system. There are 9 participant spots for this trip. However, you will see that there are only 5 spots open. The new registration system will allow the first 5 participants to secure their spots on the first-come-first-served system, per usual. The other 4 participants will be randomly selected from the waiting list pool using a random number generator (your number will correlate with your number on the waitlist). Please note that signing up for the waitlist means that you are fully committed to attending the pre-trip meeting (details below) and the trip if you are selected. The lottery will take place on 10/3 either when the waitlist is filled or at 10 pm, whichever comes first. If you are selected, you will be notified.

Hey Hoofers! We are leading a backcountry camping and canoeing trip to the Sylvania Wilderness the weekend of October 11-13. We will be doing a loop with a total paddling distance of 12.5 miles. There will be 9 participant spots on this trip. A completed canoe orientation and swim test are required for this trip. 

The pre-trip meeting will be on October 8th after the general meeting. This meeting is MANDATORY, if you can’t make it please don’t sign up for this trip. 

The cost is approximately 40 dollars, and payment is due shortly after signup. This covers food, camping, and transportation. Bring money to buy food on Friday/Sunday during the drive. 

Refund policy: We will not refund anyone who drops after Sunday, October 6th. Again, make sure you can attend the pre-trip meeting before signing up!

Itinerary

Day 1: Friday 10/11

• Meet at 2 pm at Mendota Lodge in Memorial Union, depart at 4 pm.
• Drive 4 hours to trailhead, get dinner on the road.
• Short paddle to the campsites in the dark.

Day 2: Saturday 10/12

• Paddle 7.5 miles to next campsite.
• Prepare for portages.
• Have an absolute blast!

Day 3: Sunday 10/13

• Paddle 5 miles to vehicles.
• Drive 4 hours back to Madison.
• Be home in time for dinner. 

Payment for Starved Rock day trip

Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?

Feel free to drop into my online office hours! I will have office hours every week on Monday from 3-4 pm and Wednesday from 11 am-12 pm. Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.

Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926

Whether you're a returning member or new to the club, this is the perfect chance to dive into the vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts at UW-Madison. We’ll introduce you to the exciting trips, workshops, and social events we have planned, including opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, and more. Whether you’re attending with friends or on your own, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow adventurers. Learn how you can get involved, meet like-minded people, start planning your outdoor escapades, and gear up for a season of exploration and fun in the beautiful outdoors!

LOCATION: The meeting will take place in the Mendota Lodge. It is a beautiful room right across from the OutdoorUW offices. From the Terrace, you can walk down the stairs towards the lake and take a left turn where you should see large glass windows looking into Mendota Lodge. If starting from inside Memorial Union, locate the Wheelhouse art studios on the west end of the building, walk down the stairs, turn right, and walk all the way down the hallway.

Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?

Feel free to drop into my online office hours! I will have office hours every week on Monday from 3-4 pm and Wednesday from 11 am-12 pm. Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.

Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926

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 someone cannot make this class, other trailer trainings will be offered in the future. Outdoor UW plans on running two trainings each semester. FLEET AUTHORIZATION WITH WISCONSIN HOOFERS IS REQUIRED. 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 before the driving demonstration to get started and review the basics. After a short presentation, we will be leaving our meeting location to perform the hands-on portion of the training—dress for being outside.

Previous experience driving a trailer is not required for this training, however, it is helpful as the in-person section doesn't provide much time to practice but instead is mostly meant to demonstrate skills and ability to drive a vehicle with a trailer. 

If there are questions please reach out to Nathan (headofinstruction@hoofersailing.org). A Zoom link for the virtual component of this training will be sent to participants who are registered the day before the event.

Description: The Wilderness First Responder (WFA) is a 16-hour certification course that will help you prepare for unexpected medical emergencies in wilderness settings. This fast-paced, hands-on training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals working in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care.Classroom lectures and demonstrations are combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge you to integrate your learning. At the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations. You will also leave the course with a certification that is valid for two years from the date of the course. The course is hosted by OutdoorUW and taught by seasoned NOLS instructors in a two-day format, from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Learning takes place both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather conditions, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold, or hot environments. To learn more about the curriculum please visit: https://www.nols.edu/en/wilderness-medicine/courses/

Should I take the WFA or the WFR? 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 10 -day long course that is the industry standard for outdoor professionals with outdoor schools and guide companies..https://www.nols.edu/en/about/wilderness-medicine/

Location: Primary classroom will be held at Memorial Union in Madison-800 Langdon Street. 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/ 

Register below, call, or stop in the office if there are any questions about this course.

Office hours are posted at https://union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/outdoor-uw/.

For additional information or questions about this certification course please contact Dan Dunne 608-262-7445 ddunne@wisc.edu 

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 *

Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?

Feel free to drop into my online office hours! I will have office hours every week on Monday from 3-4 pm and Wednesday from 11 am-12 pm. Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.

Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926

Whether you're a returning member or new to the club, this is the perfect chance to dive into the vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts at UW-Madison. We’ll introduce you to the exciting trips, workshops, and social events we have planned, including opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, and more. Whether you’re attending with friends or on your own, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow adventurers. Learn how you can get involved, meet like-minded people, start planning your outdoor escapades, and gear up for a season of exploration and fun in the beautiful outdoors!

LOCATION: The meeting will take place in the Mendota Lodge. It is a beautiful room right across from the OutdoorUW offices. From the Terrace, you can walk down the stairs towards the lake and take a left turn where you should see large glass windows looking into Mendota Lodge. If starting from inside Memorial Union, locate the Wheelhouse art studios on the west end of the building, walk down the stairs, turn right, and walk all the way down the hallway.

Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?

Feel free to drop into my online office hours! I will have office hours every week on Monday from 3-4 pm and Wednesday from 11 am-12 pm. Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.

Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926

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 someone cannot make this class, other trailer trainings will be offered in the future. Outdoor UW plans on running two trainings each semester. FLEET AUTHORIZATION WITH WISCONSIN HOOFERS IS REQUIRED. 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 before the driving demonstration to get started and review the basics. After a short presentation, we will be leaving our meeting location to perform the hands-on portion of the training—dress for being outside.

Previous experience driving a trailer is not required for this training, however, it is helpful as the in-person section doesn't provide much time to practice but instead is mostly meant to demonstrate skills and ability to drive a vehicle with a trailer. 

If there are questions please reach out to Nathan (headofinstruction@hoofersailing.org). A Zoom link for the virtual component of this training will be sent to participants who are registered the day before the event.

Join Outdoor UW for another informative course in the Outdoor Explorer Series (OES).  Learn and practice a new skill that will make you more comfortable and excited for your next adventure! 

Learn all about the outdoor industry's best practices for camping and traveling in bear country on this Outdoor Explorer Series: Be Bear Aware! course to learn the difference between black and brown bears, how to safely travel in bear county, and more. This course will help provide you with a bear saftey toolkit to make you more confident and safe while traveling in bear country. 

Class Learning Outcomes:

• Spot the difference between the 3 main bears you could see in North America

• Understand where “bear country” is and what bear signs look like 

• Learn how to safely navigate and camp in bear country 

• How to set up a campsite in bear country

• Practice with bear safety tools

--- Class is located in the Mendota Lodge on the water lever of Memorial Union (along the lakefront and across from the Outdoor UW office) ----

*** If you are a person with a disability needing reasonable accommodation for this course, please contact our Dan Dunne, ddunne@wisc.edu ***

This is a placeholder for a planned backpacking trip to the Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area, located within Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Further information forthcoming.

Has your brain been a bit unruly recently? Has it been telling you to worry about silly trivial details, like those upcoming midterms, your hectic social life, or that last proof on your math problem set?

Well, we can't help you with those, but we can help you ignore your brain's misguided suggestions. Join us for a weekend of trail building on the John Muir County Park segment of the Ice Age Trail!

After spending all your energy digging perfect backslopes that'll endure through decades of thunderstorms, or constructing sturdy boardwalk that thousands will enjoy, you simply won't have enough energy to worry about the difference between Camus and Sartre. Instead, you'll snuggle cozily into your sleeping bag, stuffed full of free food, and basking in the haze of delightful banter with the most interesting strangers you've ever met; some of those Ice Age Trail volunteers are as old as your grandparents, but still swing picks like they're 20. You'll get your morning started with a beautiful view of the trail segment you just built, rather than the strange squiggles in Euler's formula (e is a letter, not a number). The next weekend, instead of bragging about getitng an A on your test (boring, intangible), you can flex on your friends and family by bringing them to hike the trail you built. Best of all, there'll be no classmates or roommates to remind you of your external obligations!

Sound exciting? You'll join us in leaving from the Memorial Union parking circle at 5pm on Friday night (10/25). We'll drive an hour to John Muir County Park, grab dinner, and set up camp. The next two days, we'll be building trail or otherwise supporting trail-building efforts. On Sunday afternoon, we'll wrap up work around 3pm at the latest, we'll drive back to Memorial Union.

YOU SHOULD BRING:

• Lunch for Saturday/Sunday (I'm personally going to bring a ton of packaged, trail mix-adjacent stuff)
• 2L of water
• Close toed shoes
• Long pants
• Sleeping bag/pad; other personal camping gear, like mess kits, headlamps, and personal hygiene products (we'll bring Hoofers tents)
• Mud/rain boots or personal protective equipment like eye pro, gloves, etc. (if you have them)
• Your best dinosaur impression

Also, please complete THIS volunteer form and bring the completed form with you or email it to iatr_vip_ice_age_trail@nps.gov

Questions, comments, concerns, or Fat Bear Week bracket submissions? Email us at conservation@hooferouting.org!

Have questions about the club? Want to brainstorm? Just wanna chat?

Feel free to drop into my online office hours! I will have office hours every week on Monday from 3-4 pm and Wednesday from 11 am-12 pm. Monday office hours will be online and Wednesday office hours will be in-person in the OUW offices (across from Mendota Lodge). These times and locations are flexible, just reach out to outingpresident@hoofers.org if you need a change. Also, please try to give me a heads up if you plan on attending.

Zoom link for Mondays: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99278337926

Whether you're a returning member or new to the club, this is the perfect chance to dive into the vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts at UW-Madison. We’ll introduce you to the exciting trips, workshops, and social events we have planned, including opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, and more. Whether you’re attending with friends or on your own, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow adventurers. Learn how you can get involved, meet like-minded people, start planning your outdoor escapades, and gear up for a season of exploration and fun in the beautiful outdoors!

LOCATION: The meeting will take place in the Mendota Lodge. It is a beautiful room right across from the OutdoorUW offices. From the Terrace, you can walk down the stairs towards the lake and take a left turn where you should see large glass windows looking into Mendota Lodge. If starting from inside Memorial Union, locate the Wheelhouse art studios on the west end of the building, walk down the stairs, turn right, and walk all the way down the hallway.