Our faith exploration programs are designed to enrich and nurture the spiritual lives of children, youth, and families. We strive to help one another grow in spiritual practice, deepen our understanding and respect of our religiously diverse world, and live our UU principles out in our daily life.
2024-25 Youth Faith Exploration Offerings
We Come to Church to Grow our Hearts
Infants and toddlers (ages 0-3)
9 & 11 am
Nursery care is provided for our infants and toddlers. Parents may drop off their infants and toddlers in the nursery before the service begins. Please sign your child in at the classroom door.
PreK (ages 3-5)
9 & 11 am
Parents/guardians may drop their children off in room R3/4 prior to the service. During our PreK class, children will explore the themes of the month through stories, play, and crafts. Please sign your child in at the classroom door.
Kindergarten-5th grade
9 & 11 am
K-5th graders start in the service with their parents. After the Time for All Ages they will follow the teachers to their classrooms.
Classes will end at 10:10 am or 12:10 pm
In our K-5 classes, we explore our UU identity by learning our values, rituals, songs, and history. Students will make meaningful connections with other children and adults. They will learn tools to deal with difficult situations with the use of spiritual practice. Teachers will provide opportunities for social action and help our kids become more inclusive.
Important elements of each class:
- Singing (learning our UU hymns)
- Spiritual practice (a moment of stillness)
- Chalice Lighting and Reading of our Covenant
- Sharing of Joys and Sorrows
- Theme based activities that allow our children to socialize and connect while deepening their understanding of UU values and identity.
- Opportunities for social action
- Closing words
Classes are split between grades K-2nd and 3rd-5th with “age appropriate” activities planned for each class.
Elementary Our Whole Lives (OWL) 9 am
- 1st & 2nd grade OWL – Sunday, September 8 – November 10
Parents must attend first class on Sunday, September 8 from 9 to 11 am - 4th & 5th Grade OWL – Sunday, January 5 – March 16, 9 to 10:30 am
Parents must attend first class on Sunday, January 5 rom 9 to 11 am
6th Grade – Neighboring Faiths
11 am
Our 6th graders explore world religions through class experiences and field trips, empowering them to develop empathy for and awareness of faith traditions around the world. They further their own faith identity by applying a UU lens to their learning.
6th graders go directly to their classroom (chapel) located in the main building.
7th Grade Our Whole Lives (OWL)
10:45 am
Our Whole Lives is an age appropriate, comprehensive, and progressive sex education curriculum that supports participants in making informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. Parents must attend an orientation on either Sunday, August 18 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm or Thursday, August 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
7th graders who are registered for OWL and whose parents have attended the orientation, go directly to the classroom, (M1/2) located in the Mills Building.
8th Grade Coming of Age (COA)
11 am
JUC’s year-long Coming of Age program is the capstone of our middle-years’ program. In COA, 8th graders work with mentors, ministers, and facilitators to explore and define their spiritual (or not) beliefs and values. This experience will be something they can reflect on throughout their lives as they continue to transform and grow spiritually and ethically.
8th graders go directly to their classroom (M3/4) located in the Mills Building.
9th-12th Grade High School Youth Group (HSYG)
11 am
Our High School Youth Group (HSYG) provides an opportunity for teens to build community, have fun with friends and further explore their UU identity through outings, social justice work and activities on Sunday mornings and beyond.
High Schoolers go directly to the Mitchell Room (in the basement of the main building) for HSYG.
A few guidelines:
Before the service:
- Please have your K-5 child find their nametag on the nametag board. Let your teacher know if your child needs a new nametag. Middle and High School nametags will be kept in their classrooms
- K-5 begin in the service in the Sanctuary with their families. MS/HS and Elementary OWL classes go directly to their classroom.
After the service:
- K-5 parents please pick up your child at 10:10 am or 12:10 pm. Classes run 10 minutes longer than the service time. Children will not be allowed to leave their classroom without their guardian.
- Middle and High School youth are dismissed from their classrooms.
- Your children are welcome to have a snack in the Kid Zone in the south commons after the service.
- During the service, all youth need to be in the service or in class. They are not permitted to play on the playground or be in the commons without supervision.
We have created Google Groups for each class to help facilitate communication between teachers and families. If you are registered for FE you will be added to the appropriate group.