Spring 2025
Peace Camp (Monday July 14th - Thursday July 17th 2025)
We offer many activities in this four full day camp, focused on social and environmental justice. Stay tuned for more details as the event approaches!
Sunday Morning Program
|
Worship Service
A few weeks a month, our children ages five and up are encouraged to join the worship service at 10:30am for 20 minutes. Worship services provide an opportunity to listen to meaningful music, share joys and sorrows and hear relevant children’s stories. We choose our stories according to themes from holidays, days of observance and Unitarian Universalist eight principles. They reflect our values of a welcoming community to LGBTQIA+ folks, people of color, neuro divergent and differently abled children. Games, Snack, and Sharing
Our children enjoy community building games in the multi-purpose room prior to snack. Snack will be offered with gluten free, and dairy free options. Nuts are avoided. During the snack we discuss the stories and themes from the service and hear about the children’s news. Pre-K and Kindergarten
We welcome children to participate in interactive experiences and play!
Coming of Age
In late Spring, Unitarian Universalist teenagers usually join our congregation with a special "Coming of Age" ceremony. This ceremony is often preceded by a four-month curriculum helping them learn more about Unitarian Universalism and articulate their own beliefs. The Coming-of-Age ceremony usually features the youth reading their statements of personal belief (credo statements) to the congregation. High School Youth and Young Adults
We welcome our high school youth to participate in the following:
|
Care for Babies and Toddlers
We provide a safe and nurturing environment for babies and toddlers. We have a hired staff person who works with volunteers to provide the best care for your child(ren). Caregivers are available from 10:15- 12pm to accommodate coffee hour. Please provide your own diapers, bottles etc. Children will enjoy snack, stories, sensory activities and free play. They will go outdoors as weather permits. Please provide outdoor gear. Elementary Mixed Age
Elementary children are invited to join in our engaging and enriching program! We use Soul Matters and World Blessings Curriculums!
Middle School
Through March our middle schoolers are in a program called Our Whole Lives (OWL) Starting in April, we will have a middle school group
Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, sexual health and behavior. Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality. |
Safety and Peace Keeping Policies
We are always concerned about safety and well-being of all children in our program. We have a Child Protection Policy that our staff and volunteers adhere to. We have two teachers assigned to every room. The DRE and staff will assist the volunteers in peacemaking efforts. We mediate teasing, name calling, or bullying at times. Sometimes we might need to call the parents out of the service. For more information, read our Child Protection Policy.
Special Events
- Metro Detroit UU Teen Nights: Youth gather and share food, games and fun!
- High school Conference: youth gather for workshops and fun with peers!
- Apple picking: We visit an apple orchard in the fall.
- Field trips: We take the children on a field trip during the worship service.
- Mystic Lake Middle School UU Retreat: Gather together at Mystic Lake Camp.
- Parents night out/Children’s Night: Provides activities and games for kids.
- Pageant: The Pageant is a play performed by the children biyearly.
- Holiday Party: There is a party around the holidays!
- Winter Carnival: A winter party for families to enjoy, bi-yearly.
- Kensington: We visit Kensington Park, the farm or sledding hill.
- Seder: Families and congregants gather together for a Passover dinner, bi-yearly.
- Service Projects: We have done river clean up, food prep and collected supplies.
- Summer UU Peace Camp : We offer many activities in a four full day camp.
Multi-generational Services
Every quarter, we have a multi-generational service. These services include the leadership and talents of our children and youth. Our multi-generational services are water communion, holiday service, coming of age ceremony, teacher recognition, and flower communion.
Mission
Our Mission is to teach worthiness and wholeness, explore world views, values and emerging spirituality, and surround youth with beloved communities.
Goals
- Instill in our children that they are whole and worthy just as they are.
- Provide a framework to explore different world views, values and their emerging spirituality.
- Surround them with a values based beloved community through impactful relationships.
What is Unitarian Universalism?Unitarian Universalism is a caring, open-minded religion that encourages you to seek your own spiritual path. Our Faith draws on many religious traditions, welcoming people with different beliefs. We are united by shared values, not by creed or dogma. Our congregations are places where people gather to nurture their spirits and put their faith into action by helping to make our communities and the world a better place. Unitarian Universalists (UUs) are committed not only to spiritual growth and transformation but also to involvement in the world.
|
|
|
Acting Director of Religious Education – Eva Leventer
Childcare Staff- Jill Border Chair of Youth Programs Committee – Brian Parthum |
Youth Program Committee Members
|