Welcome!

UUCV welcomes children and youth to participate in our Religious Education (RE) programs. Love makes a family!

Our Values:

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

J – Justice: Working for a fair and better world for everyone.
E – Equity: Working for a peaceful world where everyone gets what they need.
T – Transformation: Keeping an open mind to grow and learn at any age.
P – Pluralism: Celebrating that there is more than one way and many sources of inspiration.
I – Interdependence: Honoring our connection to each other, all creatures, and the Earth.
G – Generosity: Practicing gratitude and sharing what we have.

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-5 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. Our 6-12th graders are welcome to join us but the activities are geared toward the younger ages. 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 on occasion, and some siblings in RE classes together despite being in different grades.

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

2026-2027 New Themes

• September:  Beginnings
• October:  Courage
• November:  Healing
• December:  Awe
• January:  Thresholds
• February:  Commitment     
• March:  Balance
• April:  Emergence
• May:  Play 
• ​June:  Horizons
  

Middle School & High School: We have a few short themed curriculums we will enjoy for the 2026-2027 year!

We are starting off with “Greek Myths” to help develop cultural literacy, critical thinking and moral standards.

We move next to a curriculum called “Holy troublemakers and unconventional saints.” This curriculum outlines 36 people of diverse religious backgrounds who worked for love, compassion and justice in their corner of the world, even if it meant rocking the religious boat with difficult questions.

We finish the year with the curriculum “Principled Music” Which uses popular music from the 1960s through the present as the basis for in-depth discussions of a wide variety of social justice topics.

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 with pillows, a book, and coloring supplies. Classrooms are also equipped with fidget manipulatives for those who need them. Children are also welcome to bring stuffed animals or thier own fidgets to RE if they’d like. 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.

More Ways For Youth To Explore

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 the 4th Tuesday from 6-8pm Every month. Make sure to check the calendar.

Youth have two options to choose from:

• Game night is for the more theatrical young people who enjoy socializing in a big group and doing activities together.
• Creative Workshop is for those who enjoy more quiet movement, or crafting, and it’s a place for those who don’t enjoy lots of people socializing all at once. We work on projects individually or as a group for larger Church events such as our Halloween carnival decor or Christmas costumes.
• Youth are able to choose both or just one they want to be enrolled in.

To register for Youth Night, please register your youth for Religious Education.

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-1, 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 on exact dates please check the RE calendar.

• April: Easter Egg Hunt
• May: Everyone’s Birthday!
• June: Outdoor Crafts
• July: Field and Water day 
• August: Tales and Treats
• August: U.U. Community kids clothing swap
• October: Community “Haunted house” and Carnival
• December: “Trimming the Tree” Ornament making party
• December: TBD Christmas event

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.