Special Programs and Activities for Children at UU Midcoast

Here are some of the activities and programs we provide.

 

We light this chalice to remind ourselves to treat all people kindly because they are our brothers and sisters.

We light this chalice to remind ourselves to take good care of the earth because it is our home.

We light this chalice to remind ourselves to live lives full of goodness and love because that is how we will become the best people we can be.

Based in the belief that sexual health is part of our spiritual wholeness, OWL was designed to help participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in a variety of subject areas. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants to clarify their values, build skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, social, and political aspects of sexuality as well.

SpiritPlay, developed by Nita Pinfold, D.Min., uses story-telling in the context of a Montessori style classroom to help children in living into their own answers to the existential questions: Where did we come from? What are we doing here? How do we choose to live our lives? What happens when we die?

 

As in the Montessori approach the key elements are the classroom environment and the teachers. These elements free the children to work at their own pace on their own issues after an initial lesson.

 

The Door Keeper helps the children get ready to enter the classroom as
parents drop them off.

 

The Storyteller leads the circle in the story of the day, followed by the
wondering.

 

Children choose an art response or to work with a story previously
heard, helped by the Door Keeper.

 

We call always use new volunteers as storytellers and doorkeepers.

Learning the cosmic story in fun and meaningful ways can be transformative for kids. Curricula materials are available on the 6 themes listed below. All of these are intended for use by parents and teachers who wish to integrate a science-based understanding of the world and the cosmos with whatever spiritual or philosophical worldview the child is being raised within. These worldviews include liberal forms of Christianity and other religions of the Bible, humanism, paganism, religious naturalism, Buddhism, and more.

One of the cornerstones of any Unitarian Universalist RE experience, the Coming of Age program, provides youth with a unique opportunity to focus on their own individual spiritual journey. Youth work to define their beliefs and values through self-reflection, dialogue with peers and adults, investigating other religions and exploring a variety of spiritual practices.

Young people in grades 9-12 have established a youth group which meets on an irregular basis, for social justice projects, fields trips and sleepovers. We try to have two youth advisors, one male and one female.