We Nurture Families
Children learn and grow into themselves best in a loving, supportive environment. Families flourish in a community that cares for parents and children, offering support and love to them both. SCUU is that sort of community.
Whether you’re looking for a place for your child to ask those tough religious questions with which we all struggle, or you want help teaching your child an ethical outlook on life, or you want your child to have the benefit of a larger, loving community than just your own household, this is the place.
Other opportunities for children
Children are encouraged to participate in many aspects of congregational life, including providing music during worship services, acting as worship service assistants, and helping in various congregational activities and events. Several of our youth have written and delivered sermons.
Religious Exploration Classes for Children
Children are included in the first part of each Sunday service during a special “Words for All Ages” segment. Afterward, they are escorted to their Religious Exploration classes, provided for children ages 3 to 15. Each classroom uses a sequence of 3 one-year curricula that repeat every three years.
Explorers: Ages 3-6
Curriculum: We Are Many, We Are One
This curriculum features stories, games, songs, and projects to encourage young children to honor themselves, their religious community, nature, and cultures from around the world.
Mavericks: Grades 2 through 5
Curriculum: Spirit of Adventure
This curriculum teaches UU identity using activities like dissecting a computer, building cantilevered architecture using graham crackers, interviewing a sports coach, eating smoked oysters, and singing Jingle Bells in “dog” language! There are also circus arts, an Animal Blessing, and a Popcorn Sale. Sports also provide a valuable way to translate our Principles for children as good sportsmanship and teamwork offer important parallels to the UU way of being in the world. Sports are the first theme of this curriculum. The other themes are medicine, food, winter holidays, science, building, exploring, and the web of life.
Seekers: Grades 6 through 9
Curriculum: Neighboring Faiths
This curriculum explores other faiths in our community to expose our youth to other religious views in order to promote their own spiritual growth, understanding, and tolerance. Each three-Sunday session includes an orientation to the faith, a visit to a local congregation, and a follow-up discussion. Visited faiths include Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, and Buddhist and Hindu temples. Parents often accompany their children on the visits.
