Ratings

Rating	How to Get It	What It Means
BP1	Day Hiking or Car Camping Trip with Hoofers	This rating means that you have hiked or camped with Hoofers. Eligible to be LIT on a backpacking trip.
BP2	Weekend or Overnight Backpacking Trip with Hoofers	Successfully completed a weekend backpacking trip with Hoofers demonstrating enough skill to take care of own needs and have positive mental attitude. Can participate on BP3 or BP4 Trips.
BP3	Less than week-long overnight trip in continental US	Successfully completed a longer than weekend backpacking trip with Hoofers demonstrating exceptional skill to take care of own needs, contribute positively to the group as a whole through knowledge of outdoor skills, and have positive mental attitude. Can participate on BP4 Trips
BP4	Week-Long Overnight Trip Outside of Midwest	Successfully completed a week-long backpacking trip outside of the Midwest with Hoofers demonstrating exceptional skill to take care of own needs, contribute positively to the group as a whole through knowledge of outdoor skills, and have positive mental attitude. Can participate on BP4 and some BP5 Trips
BP5	Greater than Week-Long Overnight Trip Outside of Midwest (May be international)	Successfully completed a longer than week-long backpacking trip with Hoofers demonstrating exceptional skill to take care of own needs, contribute positively to the group as a whole through knowledge of outdoor skills, and have positive mental attitude. This is the highest rating that can be earned in Hoofer Backpacking and requires advanced knowledge of outdoor skills in an extreme backcountry setting, consult Backpacking or Land Safety chair for more information.

Rating	How to Get It	What It Means
Whitewater Kayak Orientation (also called R0 or "R Zero")	Lesson on Lake Mendota, another lake, or in Pool (2-3hr)	Introduction to Hoofer-specific policies, choosing and fitting gear, basics of paddling a whitewater kayak, and wet exits (exit from a kayak in the water)
R1	Trip to a gentle moving-water stream	Actively learning how to paddle in moving current (eddy outs and peel outs).
R2	Weekend Trip up north	Comfortable capsizing in current and beginning to develop control on class II rivers
R3p	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class II	Comfortable on class II rivers and is capable in assisting with rescues. Is beginning to roll.
R3	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class III	Competent in reading and running class III rivers and can consistently roll up.
R4p	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class III	Has demonstrated proficiency in reading and paddling class III water with ease.
R4	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class III+	This rating is the highest rating given by the Hoofer Outing Club for decked canoes and kayaks and suggests that the paddler is competent to paddle any whitewater attempted by the Hoofer Outing Club

Rating	How to Get It	What It Means
Canoe Orientation Rating	Lesson on Lake Mendota (1-2hr)	Base paddling rating. Teaches canoeing strokes and union boathouse rules.
Advanced Canoe Rating	Lesson on Lake Mendota, another lake, or in Pool (2-3hr)	Able to teach the orientation lesson content, confident in steering and moving around in canoes in waves and windy conditions
R1-OC	Trip to a gentle moving-water stream	Practiced in peel outs from and eddy turns into eddies, ferrying, and paddling strokes in Class I current.
R2p-OC	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class I	Can handle Class II water competently with a similar R2p-OC paddling partner, but would have difficulty paddling Class II with an R1-OC rated partner.
R2-OC	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class II	Can handle Class II water with relative ease, can use a low brace, and possesses good river-reading ability and knowledge of water safety.
R3p-OC	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class II	A provisional rating given to an R2-OC who has demonstrated proficiency on Class II water and is judged ready to attempt paddling Class III with an R3p-OC partner or better.
R3-OC	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class III	Consistently demonstrated proficiency in paddling Grade III water, knows how to use a low brace to guide a swamped canoe through rapids and maneuver it to shore, and has a very good river reading ability.
R4p-OC	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class III	A provisional rating given to an R3-OC who has demonstrated proficiency on Class III water and is judged ready to attempt paddling Class IV with an R4p-OC partner or better.
R4-OC	Weekend Trip / By competency - Class III+	The highest open canoe rating used by the Hoofer Outing Club. For tandem canoes, it means the paddler is qualified to paddle on any water boated by the Hoofer Outing Club when paired with an R3-OC partner or better.

Rating	How to Get It	What It Means
Sea Kayak Orientation Rating (also called SK0 or "SK Zero")	Lesson on Lake Mendota or in Pool (2-3hr)	Introduction to gear selection and fitting, basic paddling skills, design and care for sea kayaks, and assisted rescue skills in a sea kayak.
SK1	Lesson on Lake Mendota (2-3hr)	Introduction to bracing, edging, and maneuvering skills, refining forward stroke, and self rescue skills in a sea kayak.
SK2p	Trip on Lake Mendota in Wind and Waves - Sea Level 2 Conditions	Poised and control in sea level 2 conditions, developing skills towards SK2 rating.
SK2	Trip on Great Lake in Wind and Waves - Sea Level 2 Conditions	Emerging sea kayaking skills in reading weather and conditions, poise and control in sea level 2 conditions, introductory navigation skills, reliable ability to self rescue in conditions.
SK3	Trip on Great Lake in Wind and Waves - Sea Level 3 Conditions	Competent in reading weather and conditions, poise and control in sea level 3 conditions, navigation skills, ability to roll a fully loaded sea kayak. This rating is the highest rating given by the Hoofer Outing Club for sea kayaking.

Rating	What It Means
MTB0	Introductory: Biker possesses the ability to balance, shift gears, safely brake, and physically fit enough to bike up to 5 miles to trails.
MTB1	Beginner: Biker has gone on at least one Hoofer bike trip and can ride green circle (beginner) singletrack trails without walking.
MTB2	Intermediate: Biker can skillfully operate a bicycle on a variety of trails, including blue square (intermediate) singletrack trails without walking. Biker has demonstrated personal responsibility that allows them to accurately gauge their own abilities.
MTB3	Advanced: Biker is an experienced mountain biker, capable of riding black diamond (advanced) trails comfortably without walking.

Cross-Country Skiing, Fly Fishing, Telemark Skiing, Snowshoeing, Trail Running, and Trail Building do not require ratings!