Welcome!

About our program

The pillars of our program, with love at the center:

• Joy: learning with laughter, silliness, and fun; celebrating life and learning milestones through rituals like Child Blessings, Coming of Age, and Bridging Ceremonies
• Community: learning to be in community, leaving no one out; how to create and tend to covenants, how to support each other and ourselves
• Self-Discovery & Exploration: learning about and celebrating our bodies, hearts, and minds; learning about and celebrating others’ bodies, minds, and hearts
• Social Action: learning how to help instigate change in our communities, and what small things we can do to help ease the injustices of the world; using democracy to change and affect our church community and our program.
• Religion: learning about and celebrating our own faith and the faiths of others, as well as those without a traditional faith. Living JETPIG (Justice, Equity, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity all powered by Love) to the best of our abilities.

Religious Education Program

Nursery (Infant – 5 years):

Open First service 9:00am-10:30am and Second Service 10:45am-12:15pm

During the school year, our nursery is open for both services. Caregivers are also welcome to stay with their children in the nursery if that helps them be more comfortable in the nursery environment. There is a speaker system available so caregivers can listen to the sermon while supporting their child- just ask our nursery staff if you’d like to listen in!

Summer Youth Religious Education:

Begins after the Story for all ages in Service 10:45am – 12:00pm

We offer Religious Education classes for all ages K-12 together in the RE building during summer single service. We practice the “one room schoolhouse” method with all ages joining each other. We have fun interactive art projects, outdoor activities, science projects and nature exploration during our summer time. Check out the Church calendar for big family events!

Sunday Youth Religious Education:

Begins after the Story for all ages in the Second Service 11:15am – 12:15pm

We have programming for grades K-12 in our Religious Education building every Sunday, except for Multigenerational Worships. Our set up is flexible, with some Kindergarteners choosing to stay in the nursery, and some siblings going to RE together despite being in different grades.

Elementary: Our elementary schoolers (K-5th grade) are split into two groups, each with its own curriculum. This year’s curriculum is Soul Matters Sharing Circle, a curriculum that focus on stories and experiential learning through games and hands-on activities.

• September:  Building Belonging
• October:  Cultivating Compassion
• November:  Nurturing Gratitude
• December:  Choosing Hope
• January:  Practicing Resistance
• February:  Embodying Resilience     
• March:  Paying Attention
• April:  Embracing Possibility
• May:  Awakening Curiosity 
• ​June:  Flourishing Together
  

Middle School & High School: Our youth are working on Building A Better World Curriculum, a program that discusses ethics and the importance of kindness and acceptance in a role playing game setting.

Youth must be registered for Religious Education after their second visit.

Accessibility in Our Religious Education Program

We strive to make our RE rooms as welcoming as possible for all children and youth. Each classroom is equipped with two adjustable headsets for children who are overwhelmed or overstimulated by a lot of noise. We also have a “Cozy Corner” in Rooms 1, 2, and 3 for children who need to take a break or self-regulate in a tent with pillows, a book, and coloring supplies. Classrooms are also equipped with fidget manipulatives for those who need them. Children are welcome to bring stuffies to RE if they’d like, and they are encouraged to go to the age group that makes them most comfortable. If they want to follow their sibling or friend instead of going to the class that matches their age, that’s fine. The upper floor of our Religious Education building, where our classrooms are located, is handicap accessible by a ramp that goes into one of our classrooms. Please notify a Religious Education volunteer if your child or youth needs assistance finding any of these tools.

Extra Programming

We have extra programming available for registered children and youth from September through June.

Youth Night:

This program is for our 6th-12th graders on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 7-8pm. Make sure to check the calendar.

Youth have two options every Wednesday: Group or Circle.

• Group is for the more rambunctious young people who enjoy socializing in a big group and doing activities together.
• Circle is for those who enjoy more discussion-based activities, quiet movement, or crafting, and it’s a place for those who don’t enjoy lots of people socializing all at once.
• Youth are able to choose either activity every Wednesday, and can switch in the middle of their evening if they’d like!

Several times throughout the year, youth will go on fun adventures together, which will begin early and end late.

To register for Youth Night, please use the form linked here.

Coming of Age:

Coming of Age is an year-round, optional program that is a traditional part of Unitarian Universalist faith. It’s an amazing opportunity for youth (grades 7-9) to take part in, filled with fun, community building, and self-discovery.

This program is closed to visitors after registration is complete.

Our Whole Lives:

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual education program. It teaches children about their bodies and the bodies of others, self-esteem, self-care, and how to navigate the difficulties of puberty and physical changes. OWL is gender-inclusive and trans-positive, and strives to be a welcoming program for all children.

• Looking for the next time we’re offering OWL K-2, 4-6, 7-9 or high school? We’ll be having that program again in the 2026-2027 school year!
• To learn more about Our Whole Lives, visit this link.

This program is closed to visitors after week 2 upon its start date.

Special Events: 

These events only happen once a year, and are a wonderful opportunity to bond as a community! For more information, check the calendar.

• April: Easter Egg Hunt
• June: Rock painting and bird feeder crafts
• July: Field and Water day 
• August: Tales and Treats
• August: U.U. Community kids clothing swap
• October: Community Trunk or Treat
• December: Tree Trimming Party
• December: No Rehearsal Pageant

Check our RE calendar for exact dates and more info on each event!

Questions?

We welcome visitors and are glad to meet with families interested in learning more about what it means to be UU. You can reach our Director of Religious Education at 360-695-1891 extension 4 or dre@uucvan.org.