Special Programs for Children & Youth
Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives, OWL, is a series of lifespan sexuality education curricula. UUCB offers classes for elementary ages (grades K-1 and grades 4th-6th), Middle School (grades 7-9), and High School (grades 10-12).
OWL helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their bodies, sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas:
- human development
- relationships
- personal skills
- sexual behavior
- sexual health
- society and culture.
Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, “Our Whole Lives” provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. More information about OWL can be found on the UUA website: http://www.uua.org/re/owl.
This offering is not well-suited to an online environment and is therefore only held in person.
Neighboring Faith Communities (Grades 6/7)
In this program youth explore the faith traditions of Unitarian Universalism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Liberal Christianity, and Catholicism. Discussions, videos, and games explore the values that the faiths share but with an emphasis on their uniqueness. Most faith units include an information piece, a field trip or virtual visit (mosque, temple, synagogue, churches, and more), followed by reflection on the visit. Most field trips are on Sundays but since some religions observe other days as holy, we may make weekday or Saturday visits as needed.
Coming of Age Grades (8/9)
The Coming of Age program at UUCB offers eighth graders an engaging and structured atmosphere in which to explore significant issues at this transitional stage of life.
Coming of Age provides a modern rite of passage experience that welcomes and affirms youth as they embark on their journey towards young adulthood. The youth are supported on this journey by the Director of Religious Exploration. Coming of Age is comparable to a confirmation or bar/bat mitzvah.
At the end of the Coming of Age program, the youth present a worship service to the congregation and discuss what they’ve learned through the COA experience and how they have grown. These “credo” statements can be presented as a statement of faith, a poem, a visual representation, or anything that feels authentic to the youth. After COA, the youth move into the Youth Group.
Some highlights of the program include:
- Development of a personal belief statement
- Learning about UU history
- Community service project
- End-of-year celebration/party for the youth and their families
- Working with a mentor- a member of UUCB who will share their spiritual journey
Youth Group (Grades 8-12)
The Youth Group is comprised of high school age youth (grades 8-12) who gather every for worship, conversation, fun, food, social action, and deepening relationships. It is an ongoing group that seeks to foster spiritual depth, clarify both individual and universal religious values and create a peaceful community on Earth. A part of the Unitarian Universalist youth movement, this group welcomes all high school students in our faith community. This year we are working to create a Southern Maine Youth Conference for local UU youth group to get to know each other.
