Hooray for warmer weather and unfrozen waterways! One of our family’s favorite spring-summer-fall activities is being on the water. This post will hopefully help you get started boating, too!
Boating is awesome and we love it. It’s quiet and peaceful and beautiful and fun. Having grown up a boating kid and having married a boating partner, it came naturally for our family to boat. Madison’s lakes and rivers have so much to offer. So, here’s your round-up of ways to get on the water so you too can get your family out. See you on the water!
I’m sure I’ve missed some family boating opportunities. Please add suggestions in the comments.
Questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask!
The blog is divided into three sections. The first is for kids-only fun – like summer camps and programs that cater to kids. The second section is for adults who would like to pursue some of the same activities as their kids. The last section is for families to go together.
Kids Programs
1. Kids summer programming:
-Rutabaga Outdoor Programs Youth Program
Kayak, Canoe & SUP, ages 8+
-Hoofers Sailing Club Youth Program
Sailing, ages 10
-Madison Youth Sailing Foundation
Sailing, ages 4+
-Camp Randall Rowing Club
Rowing, middle & high schoolers
-Camp Wingra – offered at Wingra and Marshall Boats locations
Kayak, SUP & Canoe, ages “entering grades 1-10”
-Mad City Ski Team
Water skiing, variety of programs for different ages
2. Year-round groups for kids:
-Camp Randall Rowing Club
Middle & High Schoolers
Grown-up Fun
1. Mendota Rowing Club
-If you’d like to get started rowing (and I highly encourage you to do so!) this is the club for adults. Round up some friends and join! Mamas group adventure? Couples active date night?
2. Hoofers Sailing Club
-Open to all! Hoofers is the best deal you’ll ever find anywhere to learn to sail. Take advantage! Once you get rated on certain boats, you can take your family and friends out. Hard to top an ice cream or beer on the Memorial Union Terrace afterwards!
3. Rutabaga Paddlesports
-Rutabaga offers excellent group or private lessons. Instruction is top-notch. SUP, Kayak & Canoe lessons available.
Family Fun
1. Boat Rentals, Tours & more
-MMSD Pontoon Rides – check the MSCR guide for more info!
-MMSD Canoe Outings – check the MSCR guide for more info!
-Hoofers Canoe Rental
-Madison Boats – offers 3 locations! SUP, Kayak & Canoe rentals. Lots of organized outings, groups and social events. Marshall Boats location has pontoon rentals.
-Wisconsin River Paddling Trips – you can go with or without guides and on short trips or longer ones or even overnights! There are many outfitters in Sauk City, Baraboo and elsewhere who cater to this kind of group. The Wisconsin River is beautiful!
-Devils Lake – canoe rentals
-Betty Lou- large group charters on bigger boats on Lakes Mendota & Monona
-Skipper Bud’s – offers charters & rentals
2. Get out on your own!
Once you’ve taken some lessons and have a really good understanding of the risks involved with water and the appropriate safety precautions, then go, go, go! Be safe out there! Wear your life jacket and know the risks.
Leslie is a stay-at-home mama of a kindergartener and 4K kiddo. She loves being outside with her kids! Before staying home, Leslie was a Spanish, ESL & DLI teacher. She sailed as a kid and then taught sailing and rowing in various places from the West coast through the middle of the country and out to the East. As a high schooler and through college, Leslie’s primary water getaway was rowing. Leslie and her husband met sailing and rowing, and then ditched both those sports in favor of kayaking. After kiddos, canoeing and sailing have been the go-to’s. When not on the water, Leslie enjoys time with her family and friends. She loves family hikes (preferably next to the water), road and cargo biking, cooking, some yoga, and an occasional run here and there.
