Hosted Hiking Interest Form

Some of the most popular FIUTS events for students are going on hikes and appreciating the natural beauty that we are surrounded by in the PNW. Unfortunately, the cost of chartering a bus has become prohibitively expensive, an expense then passed down to the participants. While we work with some of our institutional partners to find ways to partner and reduce costs for students, FIUTS still wants to provide our participants with hiking opportunities and chances to interact with hosts and other residents of the Seattle metropolitan area. Therefore, we are launching a hosted hike program where students are matched with hosts (members of the FIUTS community) and then go on day hikes. These hosting matches will be made on an ongoing basis, as form submissions are received. Unfortunately, FIUTS cannot make any guarantees, but we will do our best to match as many participants as possible! Once you are matched with a host, FIUTS will connect you via email. Then it is up to you and your hosts to make the first contact and work out the details- do not be afraid to be the first one to reach out!

To ensure that we match you with the hosts that best fit your preferences, please fill out the form below and click on the submit button. If you have any follow-up questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Manager of Student Programs, Josef Cole, at josef@fiuts.org.

I am not connected to the University of Washington. can I participate? 

Yes! We are an international organization with friends and alumni from all over the world. This program is open to everyone connected to the FIUTS community who lives in the Seattle Metropolitan Area. 

I am not in THE Seattle area. can I participate? 

Unfortunately, no. You need to be in the area to go on a hike around here.

Will I be guaranteed a Host by signing up? 

FIUTS will do our best to match you with a host. However, matches will depend on various factors such as demand for particular preferences and other special requests.

I’m concerned about privacy in this program. what should I do?

If you would like to ensure that your personal information is not shared, consider creating a new email address just for this program; then, if you decide it’s not for you, you can delete the account!

When will I be matched with a Host?  

FIUTS cannot tell you exactly when you will be matched. How quickly you are matched will depend on several criteria (preference(s), availability of hosts, number of submissions already waiting for a match, etc.).  

How do I contact my Host? 

Once you are matched with a partner, FIUTS will connect you via email. Then it is up to you and your host(s) to make the first contact - do not be afraid to be the first one to reach out!  

I am concerned with my privacy; what will FIUTS do with my information?

FIUTS will make your name, email address, and personal introduction available to your host(s) when you are connected. We will not sell or provide your information to anyone besides your prospective host(s) unless you ask us to. If you are concerned with sharing your information with a wider audience, we recommend you create an email address specifically for this program.

I contacted my Host(s), and they have not replied; what should I do? 

There are many reasons why hostsare unresponsive. Please allow up to one week after initial contact before contacting FIUTS. Please contact Josef at josef@fiuts.org if it has been longer than a week.

My Host is making me feel uncomfortable; what should I do?

FIUTS wants all participants to feel comfortable during their exchanges. If your host(s) are not following the FIUTS Codes of Ethics, contact Josef at josef@fiuts.org.

I applied a while ago and haven’t received a match; what should I do?

The speed of a Match will depend on various factors such as demand for particular preferences and other special requests. Unfortunately, FIUTS cannot make any timeline guarantees, but we will do our best to match as many participants as possible as quickly as possible!

If you have not received a match within one month and still want to participate, please contact Josef at josef@fiuts.org to express that you are still interested in the program, and we will keep your application active.