Club Feature: The Moonlighters Inc.
For those seeking a snowmobile club worth mirroring, a good place to start might be this year’s American Council of Snowmobile Association (ACSA) Snowmobile Club Of The Year.
That honor for 2025 was bestowed upon The Moonlighters, a relatively small but impressively active club from central Wisconsin.
There are certainly many fine snowmobile clubs that oversee larger trail networks, but few are as integrated into their local communities in many different ways as The Moonlighters. And, working with other local clubs, they’ve also established new trails and reignited interest from lapsed snowmobilers and newcomers alike.
Learn more by reading the answers to our survey provided by club secretary Lauren Levey. To have your club considered for exposure, send us your club info here. And if you don’t currently belong to a great club, find one soon.
This article originally appeared in the October 2025 issue of Snow Goer magazine. That means you could have enjoyed it long ago if you only subscribed! Go ahead and sign up today to get the print or digital edition of the magazine and feed your love of the greatest winter sport ever created.
What is the best in-season club activities that make membership fun?
“Our annual club trip, which brings together more than 35 members for a weekend in the Northwoods. Even when there’s no snow, members still attend, using UTVs when possible to explore the area while supporting local businesses. This trip builds morale, strengthens relationships and offers a chance to experience other trail systems, making it both fun and meaningful for members.”
What is your club’s best off-season event or activity?
“The standout off-season event is the Trail Installation Day each fall. It draws nearly 40 participants, including members, non-members and landowners who work together to prepare trails for the upcoming season. The day ends with a celebratory cookout, creating a positive, inclusive atmosphere that fosters community spirit and ongoing member involvement.”
What’s your club’s best means of finding new members?
“Personal networks & social media. Members are encouraged to bring friends to meetings and the club creates public Facebook events to attract new interest. Our strategy also includes showcasing club benefits at fundraisers and events as well as building new trails that increase access and draw in new members from the community.”
How do you make new members or prospective members feel welcomed?
“New members are welcomed through hands-on involvement and community-focused events. They’re invited to participate in trail work, fundraising and social gatherings like the club trip or Trail Installation Day. The club’s open, supportive environment helps new members integrate quickly. Additionally, the monthly Moonlighters Memo newsletter keeps everyone informed and engaged.”
Other than safety training, does your club do anything to get/keep youth involved?
“The club offers free memberships to youth under 18 who don’t have a parent in the club. We encourage all members, including youth members, to participate and volunteer in all club events. One youth member serves as a Columbia County youth representative in Wisconsin’s Kids & Adults On Sleds (KAOS) program, further connecting young riders to leadership opportunities within the sport.”
One interesting thing our club does for the good of the sport and the community is…
“The Moonlighters promote the sport through education, visibility and community engagement. During our 50th anniversary celebration, we had a parade float that showcased the entire trail-building process — from installation to grooming. This showed our community members, even non-snowmobilers, the process we follow each year to be able to open our trails. We also hold an annual landowner appreciation dinner to strengthen relationships with our local landowners, who are the backbone to our trail system.”
Overall, the thing that makes our club great is…
“We have a tight-knit, multigenerational membership that blends experience with youthful enthusiasm. With many members under the age of 45 and five still-active charter members, the club thrives on collaboration, shared passion and a commitment to giving back. Members are active locally and at the state level, and their year-round efforts ensure the sustainability and enjoyment of snowmobiling in the region.”
