From September to May, Religious Exploration (RE) is offered to young people in two age groups.

Elementary School-Aged Children

Children from kindergarten through grade five first begin their Sunday morning in the service with their family. After the “Time for All Ages” portion, children head off to the RE classroom. They participate in the “Soul Matters” curriculum, which follows the same monthly themes used in our services and adult education programs. Through the use of activities such as story-telling and artwork children are encouraged to explore each theme in-depth. A part-time religious exploration leader and volunteers from our congregation lead these activities.

Childcare is available to children younger than kindergarten age during the service.

Middle School/High School

This past year middle and high school students have been involved in the new BATS (Being a Teen) program – Crossing Paths: A Neighboring Faiths Curriculum.

Crossing Paths is not only an interfaith learning program; its ultimate goal is to help youth build and clarify their own UU identity through engagement with other faiths. The year begins with Unitarian Universalism and moves to a different faith each month. Participants interact with someone from the faith they are studying and visit their sacred space. Our unique perspective on comparative religion is that each faith offers an understanding of a problem and offers humanity a solution.

Coming of Age

From time to time we offer the Coming of Age program, a rite of passage experience that allows the youth of the Fellowship to explore spirituality, personal values and responsibility, and group interaction as they leave childhood and enter their teen years and young adulthood. Activities might include social action projects, retreats, and exercises involving discussion, drama, music, writing and art. Each participant selects an adult member of the church to mentor and guide them throughout the program which lasts a year. Upon completion, each youth participant will present a credo or statement of belief to the Fellowship at a special service. The purpose of the credo is for the participant to reflect on their own personal beliefs and how they might have evolved over the past year.