RE YOUTH PROGRAMS
Youth Groups
Our Youth Groups are designed to facilitate the transition between the structured children’s program and the self-directed church participation of the adult. They are meant to help encourage our youths’ developing understanding of his/her identity as a Unitarian Universalist and to enhance his/her personal sense of value within the church and wider community. Specific group activities are determined by the young people with the consent and guidance of their advisors. There will be opportunities for fellowship, learning, worship, and service. Here at First Parish of Stow and Acton, we offer both a Junior Youth Group (7th & 8th grade) and a Senior Youth Group (9th –12th grade). Our youth groups offer the following:
- Social Activities
- Participation in the greater church community, both at FPC and with other UU churches
- Opportunities to develop leadership skills
- Social Action projects
Some of the activities in which our youth have participated include:
- Youth Pride Rally in Boston
- Crop Hunger Walk
- Habitat for Humanity Youth Day
- Planning and running children’s activities at our annual church fair
- Assisting at Drumlin Farms for their annual Haunted Hayride
- Apple picking with youth from our sister church in Roxbury
- Fundraising to support Gulf Coast relief efforts
- Visiting the New England Vihara Buddhist and Meditation Center
- Book discussions
- Bird watching
For the 2007-2008 year, the Senior Youth group meets the first Monday evening of each month and each Sunday of the month thereafter, following church services. We are open to any interested youth, your families need not be members of the church to attend. The following link to the website of Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) sponsored by the Unitarian Univeralist Association (UUA) can provide additional information http://www25.uua.org/YRUU/.
Please contact our Youth Coordinator, Whitney Retallic at youth@fpc-stow-acton.org if you are interested in learning more about Senior Youth Group.
Coming of Age
As teenagers, our youth are offered a special “Coming of Age” program. This year-long program, which includes an adult mentor from our church community, is designed to help them learn more about Unitarian Universalism and articulate their own beliefs. Our Coming of Age ceremony culminates with our youth reading their statements of personal belief (credo statements) to the congregation.
OWL (Our Whole Lives, Sexuality and Our Faith)
Our 8th grade youth are offered Our Whole Lives in conjunction with other UU churches in the area. Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
For further information on any of these offerings, please contact our Director of Religious Education.
