For 3 and 4 year olds

Chalice Children
Chalice Children helps children learn about our faith community, celebrate the friendships they have here, and inspire their curiosity about the world around them. We’ll indulge their wonder about the stars, moon, rainbows, and more. During Teddy Bear month, they will help their bears make friends, nurture them when they’re sick, and help them to not be afraid.

For Kindergarten and 1^st Graders

Treasure Hunting

Treasure Hunting is inspired by the fun and excitement of true treasure hunts, but in this class it’s understanding and appreciation for ourselves and our world that we search for. We’ll introduce the basic tenets of UUism and its principles. Each week children will make a “treasure” to add to their treasure chest of learning. Through games, stories, song, and crafts, the treasures of self-esteem, community, religion, and nature are celebrated.

For 2^nd and 3^rd Graders

Free to Believe

In Free to Believe we’ll use our UU principles as starting points for exploring values, beliefs, and what it means to be a UU. What does it mean to be kind and respectful and to work toward peace and justice? How do we live our UU principles? They’ll explore some of life’s “big questions” through the lens of Unitarian Universalism’s sources. The class will also learn about our Partner Church Program; our “partner” is in Nagyajta, Romania.

For 4^th and 5^th Graders

Exploring Our Origins

Exploring our Origins provides children the intellectual and spiritual space to develop a sense of their own place within the cosmic narrative of the universe and life on Earth. They’ll explore the wonders and mysteries of life on Earth through the lenses of both science and reverence, and come to understand themselves as part of a much larger natural history that began with the birth of the universe.

Building Bridges – Offered to 6th graders on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and Sundays at 9 am.
Building Bridges is a world religions program that deepens youth’s understanding of the diverse world in which they live. It seeks to broaden their knowledge of humanity and embolden their spiritual search. During the year they will explore the beliefs and rituals that are the pillars of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and more.  We welcome people from other faiths to share their beliefs with us, and we visit numerous places of worship outside of FUS. Some flexibility in scheduling is required to accommodate these visits.

Compass Points – Offered to 7th graders on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and Sundays at 9 am, and to 6th and 7th grade youth on Sundays at 11 am.
Compass Points is a UU curriculum that leads middle schoolers on a journey of thought and spirit. Each direction points to a leg of the journey that is life, helping us to engage our spiritual and questioning selves in ways that deepen our appreciation for our own gifts, for others, and for our rich and dynamic UU history. Each week participants “take a stand” on an ethical or philosophical issue, delve into that issue more deeply, and then re-visit their “stand.” Included in our topics are concepts of religious authority, dying and living, religious freedom, our UU ancestors, and how we “walk the talk.”

Mind, Body & Soul – Offered on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and Sundays at 9 am. 
What would it mean for adolescents to approach their relationships and sexual lives with an understanding of who they are, mind, body and soul? Our Mind, Body & Soul class draws from multiple sources and offers a progressive and comprehensive sex ed. curriculum that puts sexuality firmly within the context of relationships. Our goal is to create a safe community where teens can honestly discuss sensitive issues that profoundly affect them. You’re not likely to find a more comprehensive sex education for youth than this! Regular attendance is imperative to create and sustain a trusting bond and to most benefit from the lessons. A parent orientation will be held prior to the first class.

The range of topics is wide, including these as well as others:
• How our social, mental, physical, and emotional needs inform our sexual decisions
• The complexity of gender identity, biological sex, and sexual orientation
• The emotional and physical risks of sexual behaviors
• The influence of media on our developing concepts of sexuality
• Body image and assumptions about others
• Communication skills

During the year we are visited by Planned Parenthood and Rape Crisis Center. We also visit a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent health. Each week participants are given the opportunity to ask confidential questions so that we know they are getting all the information they need and want.

Coming of Age – Offered on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and Sundays at 9 am.
Coming of Age is a program that honors our teens as spiritual seekers and celebrates the significant passage from childhood to being a teen. During the year, teens strive to define who they are and what they believe. They grapple with some of life’s “big questions” and learn life skills that help them to live a healthy life – spiritually, emotionally and socially. The year’s program includes two weekend retreats, class activities and discussions, time spent with “elders,” a service project, and more. Each participant develops a “This I Believe…” statement that they then present at the Coming of Age worship service in May.

Participation in Coming of Age involves a significant commitment from parents and youth. Weekly attendance is very important and several events require participation. These include the Fall and Spring retreats, the opening and closing ceremonies, and the Coming of Age worship service. If you have not attended an orientation for the Coming of Age program (all 8th graders and their parents are invited to this in the spring), then be sure to talk with our Director of Children’s Religious Education before enrolling.