To help all new international students transition into their lives at the UW and in Seattle, CIRCLE, in coordination with key campus partners, will lead the execution of the CIRCLE International Welcome Programs (IWP) for all four quarters. The CIRCLE IWP will be offered on June 18, 2026. As international students are able to arrive up to 30 days prior to the beginning of the academic year, students usually arrive at different times during these 30 days to get situated and settle their personal affairs before the beginning of the school year. With this in mind, the CIRCLE IWP complements First Year Programs’ Dawg Daze by providing new international students targeted and tailored programming to ensure they get the information or services that meet their unique needs.
CIRCLE International Welcome Program are sponsored by:
IWP Summer 2026 Schedule
Programs for Graduate Students
Event: Summer International Student Welcome Session
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: Founders Hall 170
This event is a collaboration among CIRCLE, ISS, and the Foster School of Business.
2026 Summer Pre-Arrival Essentials Series
A virtual workshop series and student engagement program for new international graduate students arriving at UW in the fall.
See workshop dates and topics here.
Programs for Undergraduate Students
We host eight welcome sessions for new undergraduate students from around the world to guide you through the first steps of joining UW, introduce you to some campus resources, and connect you with student organizations and peers from your region.
See welcome sessions and dates here.
Regional Connection Groups (RCG) connect new international Huskies by region via social media groups. We have several RCG group chats in Wechat, WhatsApp, Kakao, Line and Instagram. Throughout the summer, we will offer many Zoom sessions in small groups to help you learn about resources and tips to help you succeed and enjoy life at UW.
Learn more and join your RCG group here.
Summer Event Series
CIRCLE offers a series of fun events for all current and new students living in Seattle during summer!
CIRCLE Summer Kick-off: World Cup Watch Party
☀️Sun’s out, fun’s out! For those of you still on the UW campus and looking for ways to spend your downtime, look no further! Join us as we kick off the CIRCLE Summer Program! Get ready for an exciting lineup of events this summer, from pirates and museums to kickball and outdoor movies, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while exploring Seattle.
We kick all of this off with pizza & ice cream, and watch the Brazil vs Scotland game!🍕🍦
Date: Wednesday, June 24th.
Time: 2:30 – 5:00 PM
Location: Schmitz Hall 250
CIRCLE Goes to Pirates Landing
🏴☠️Yarr, avast ye mateys and listen! Join CIRCLE as we witness the annual tradition of the Seafair Pirates Landing, where pirates make landfall on Alki Beach and rush to steal the key to the city. With plenty of festivities and treasures galore, make ready for an event that will shiver your timbers!
We will meet at Schmitz Hall at 11:45 AM, before raising our anchors and heading for Alki Beach! Make sure to bring water and wear sunscreen, and your best pirate gear, of course.
Date: Saturday, June 27th.
Time: 11:45 AM – 3:30 PM
Meeting Location: Schmitz Hall 250
CIRCLE Canoeing at WAC
Looking to make some new friends? Or maybe you want to enjoy the sunshine and the water. What better way to do that than canoeing on the beautiful Lake Washington? Come paddle with CIRCLE at the Waterfront Activities Center (WAC)! Enjoy the water through the canoe, and maybe even make some new friends along the way!
If you are joining this event alone, we will meet at Schmitz Hall at 3:30 PM so you can meet your canoeing partner! If you already have a canoeing partner, feel free to head to the Waterfront Activities Center on your own, but you are more than welcome to join us at Schmitz for some snacks.
Date: Wednesday, July 1st, 2026
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: Waterfront Activities Center(WAC)
Participants will be paying for their own rentals at $15 per hour (for two people). Each canoe holds two adults, so sign up with a friend or be partnered with a new one. Remember to bring your Husky Card for canoe rental!
Play Kickball at Green Lake
Summer’s here and it would be a shame to waste the few sunny days in Seattle, so join CIRCLE as we go out to Green Lake Ballfield to play an exciting game of kickball! It is a sport played similar to baseball, except we kick a football/soccer sized ball (you can learn more about how to play here: How to Play Kickball
We will meet at Schmitz Hall at 11:15 AM and take the bus together to head to the field. Remember to bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and prepare for fun!
Date: Wednesday, July 8th, 2026
Time: 11:15 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Green Lake Ballfield 1
⚾ Join CIRCLE for a Mariners Game! 💙
Come cheer on the Mariners with us on Friday, July 17, and stick around for the postgame fireworks! It’s the perfect summer outing to meet new friends and enjoy a night at the ballpark.
Date: Friday, July 17, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Meeting Location: Schmitz Hall 250 (we’ll head to T-Mobile Park together)
Ticket: $11
CIRCLE Game It Out
We’re halfway through the summer and our events are just heating up! This week, we open our office for an open game session, where we invite you to play various board, card, party, and (limited) console games! You’re also welcome to bring your own games to play with your soon-to-be friends. Come join us and have some fun, make some friends, and enjoy some light snacks.
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Schmitz Hall Room 250
CIRCLE Ballard Farmers Market Trip
Ballard hosts a farmer’s market every Sunday, where you can buy fresh, local produce made right here in Washington 🍅🥬. With incredibly high quality honey, apples, berries and more, you can not only treat yourself to the good stuff, but also explore the wonderful sights in the Ballard area. Some great attractions are the Ballard Locks, the Salmon Ladder, and the National Nordic Museum.
We will meet at Schmitz Hall at 10 AM and take the bus together to head to Ballard. Once we are there, you are free to explore the farmer’s market or the neighboring area. We will send you an email later on with contact information in case of emergencies, and we suggest you bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen. We hope to see you there!
Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Schmitz Hall Room 250
CIRCLE Goes to Seattle Art Museum
The first Thursday of every month, numerous iconic museums across Seattle grant free admission to all! Join CIRCLE as we visit the Seattle Art Museum, one such iconic museum opening free admission to all this Thursday. Featuring various mediums such as paintings, sculptures, crafts, carvings, there are a number of incredible exhibits featuring artists far and wide!
Learn more about what’s on now through this link: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/exhibitions
We will meet at Schmitz Hall at 5 PM and head to the museum together. You are welcome to come back with us, or to make your own way back!
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Time: 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Schmitz Hall Room 250
RSVP here
For more CIRCLE events during summer:
- Visit CIRCLE Calendar: https://www.washington.edu/circle/programs/calendar/
- Follow CIRCLE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uwcircle/
- Any other questions? Reach out to CIRCLE at uwcircle@uw.edu.
CIRCLE events are supported by the Student Services and Activities Fee (SAF) which has funded student employees for all CIRCLE of Friends events.