Wisconsin Union restructures outdoor programming
By: Andrew Mackens
The Wisconsin Union has been undergoing some changes lately and not just with the construction. The Union’s outdoor recreation programs are getting an operational facelift, resulting in the Union’s outdoor organization, Wisconsin Hoofers, to become part of a bigger initiative.
Through the Memorial Union Reinvestment, the Wisconsin Union is branching out to the community with its new umbrella brand, Outdoor UW. When asked about the new space and the role of Outdoor UW, Jacob Hahn, Outdoor Recreation Director, was able to explain in detail.
“The mission of Outdoor UW is to be the University’s outlet to the outdoors. There are a lot of people that are interested in off-the-cuff experiences, such as renting a boat or a tent for a weekend. Ultimately, we want to get people outside. We want to find things that nicely complement Hoofers and offer a broad spectrum of opportunities to the community.”
The new Outdoor UW space is set to be the undisputed best spot for outdoor recreation on campus. Easy access to Lake Mendota and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve make it an ideal location.
The Lakeshore Nature Preserve
Jacob added, “Having a nature preserve on campus is something that’s very rare, and because of that we’re thinking of ways that Outdoor UW can utilize this resource by creating new programs and initiatives.”
The Outdoor UW space is available to all members of the community, with discounted rental rates for students and Union members. Even if you are a nature novice and participating in an Outdoor UW activity for the first time, the staff will be ready to show you the ropes.
Kayaking on Lake Mendota
“We want our staff to be highly knowledgeable and highly trained on the how-tos of different activities. We’re training our staff how to teach someone to paddle a kayak, set up a tent, find a place to hike, etc. We want our staff to provide great customer service,” Jacob said.
Also, staff will teach classes for students, Union members and the community to help them develop skills to thrive in the outdoors. Some tentative ideas for classes in the educational series include building fires, orienteering and wilderness photography. A few classes will be offered this coming fall, but most will make their debut in spring 2014.
Between the student-run organization model that Hoofers already has and the all-inclusive model of rentals and classes, Jacob is excited about the future of Outdoor UW as a whole.
“Very few programs engage and involve community members. A really special part of the Hoofer programs is the interaction of people experienced in a specific activity serving as educators and mentors for younger student members and others less experienced. The new rentals and classes combined with Hoofers created Outdoor UW, giving us the potential to become the leader in collegiate outdoor recreation and outdoor education. We have the potential to do something that isn’t happening at any other college in the United States.”
Outdoors UW’s new space will be open and have rentals available by the end of August, with more activities and projects in the works as the organization grows.
To read more about the new space, check out Terrace Views article Hoofers faces the next challenge.
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Andrew Mackens is a junior at UW-Madison studying Marketing in the Wisconsin School of Business. He is a Social Media Intern with the Wisconsin Union, as well as an active member of the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Music committee.
