Prospective Members
From canoe trips, whitewater kayaking, 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. We meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7 pm in the Mendota Lodge at Memorial Union.
How to Become a Member:
Who can be a member?
Anyone with a Union Membership! In other words, Hoofer Outing Club is available to students, faculty, alumni, and community members! No experience or equipment with the outdoors is necessary-- we provide lessons and equipment for all of our activities.
Don't have a Union Membership? Become a union member! (All students already have Union Membership)
Why be a member?
As a Hoofer Outing Club member, you will...
1) Have lots of affordable opportunities to explore Madison and the country!
2) Have access to outdoor gear including backpacks, sleeping bags, kayaks, canoes, mountain bikes, skis, and pretty much anything that is required to participate in any of our events!
3) Learn different activities such as canoeing, whitewater kayaking, backpacking, cross country skiing, etc.!
4) Be a part of a welcoming community that loves going outside!
Normally going on adventures can be expensive and hard to plan, but a key goal of the club is to make it affordable and easy! From little day trips to the arboretum, to sea kayaking lessons on Lake Mendota, to spring break trips to all corners of the country, there is something for everyone. On top of all of the great experiences, there are also endless leadership roles that you can work up to, so you can be the one to plan the trip of your dreams!
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| Academic Year | $45 |
| Annual | $65 |
| Fall | $35 |
| Spring | $35 |
| Summer | $40 |
The Hoofer Ambassadors Access Fund is intended to promote diversity and accessibility by decreasing financial barriers to the outdoors. We recognize that certain groups and identities have been historically underrepresented in the outdoors, and this fund is an effort to change that narrative. It intends to foster inclusivity and provide individuals with new experiences through the six Hoofer Clubs: Mountaineering, Outing, Riding, Sailing, Scuba, and Ski & Snowboard.
How do I sign up?
Watch the video above!! You may join the Hoofer Outing Club at any time. Sign up online, attend one of the club meetings on Tuesdays at 7pm at Mendota Lodge, or go to the Outdoor Programs Office in the Memorial Union during normal business hours (608-262-1630).