Programs for Children, Youth and Families

Quality and loving childcare is available to our youngest community members, in our Sprouts classroom during both the 9:30 and the 11:15 a.m. services. Children in Sprouts also experience meaningful ritual and community building each Sunday through snack time, stories and play.  We use Jen Shattuck's "Letters from Ellery" videos to provide a simple arc of faith development for our older Sprouts kiddos and fun ways to bring religious exploration home.  To view previous "Letters from Ellery" videos and suggestions for at-home religious exploration, please click here.

Using the premise of popular superheroes, like Black Panther and Teen Titans, this elementary-age class builds the foundations for anti-opression, personal responsibility, and love.  We often begin the morning with creative free-play, as children are dropped off and get settled.  Our Welcome Circles begin with lighting the Chalice and sharing Joys and Sorrows.  Group reflection includes exploring questions like "what can help us work through our fears?" and "how can we help our community?"  Children continue to explore these questions throughout the morning with a group activity or game, like making an obstacle course or trying out improv games.  In Superhero Academy, children develop a sense of creativity and agency, knowing they have the strength and resources to work for justice in our world.

In our middle school program, young teens learn about other faith traditions and the religious origins of Unitarian Universalism.  Youth learn about the important theological questions explored in all faith traditions, develop their ability to see from a range of perspectives, and cultivate interfaith connection.  In addition to discussion, creative activities, reading, and videos, this learning also takes place through field trips to visit our neighbors in faith.  World Religions is offered only at the 11:15 am service.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education program designed to help participants gain the knowledge, values and skills to lead sexually healthy, responsible lives. In this OWL class, youth explore many topics, such as anatomy and physiology, gender, sexual orientation, relationships, dating, pregnancy, contraception, and sexual decision making. (This program requires advance registration.)  OWL is offered only at the 11:15 am service and is NOT open for drop-in after October 2.

Coming Of Age is a rite of passage experience where participants explore their personal and spiritual beliefs.  At the beginning of the year, Coming of Age teens are paired with an adult mentor from the congregation, who offers a sense of guidance and perspective.  Together, mentors and mentees explore questions about god, identity, life after death, good and evil, justice-making, and personal purpose.  The class works together on a service project and creates a worship service.  Coming of Age culminates in a solo vigil and the development of a faith statement, which teens share with the congregation during a special service in May.  (This program requires advance registration).  Coming of age is offered only at the 11:15 am service and is not open for drop-ins after October 2nd.

In addition to the religious education classes listed above, UUC is now offering the Our Whole Lives class for Kindergarten and 1st grade.  This eight-week workshop curriculum helps children begin the life-long process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and values about identity, relationships, safety and health.  Our Whole Lives is offered after the service, beginning in January 2023 and requires pre-registration.  A concurrent parent group is offered as an opportunity for OWL K-1 parents to connect with one another and reflect on the topics their children will be exploring.