Youth Groups

Overview of Childcare and Religious Education

There are several levels of child programs at the Fellowship: Nursery care (for children up to age 3), Religious Education (for intermediate ages), and two Youth Groups (for teenagers). No preregistration to any of these programs is required for occasional visits. There is also an independent college-age group.

Nursery care is provided during all Sunday programs. During the academic year, religious education for older children is available at one of the services or at both, depending on the age. During single services in the summer, multi-age activities are planned for children ages 4th-6th grade. Contact our Director of Youth and Children's Ministries (292-5960, dycm@uufames.org) for more information.

More information about all children's programs can be found in the Religious Education Handbook.

Our Youth Groups

There are two youth groups supervised by the congregation: a Middle School group and a High School group. These groups only meet during the second service (11am-noon).

For college-aged youth, there is an independent campus group ISUUU.

The youth program is administered by the Youth Adult Committee with the guidance and consultation of the Director of Youth and Children's Ministries.

RE and Youth Calendar 2007

Wednesday Night/Sunday Morning Youth Group Calendar 2007

Youth Programs What is YAC? YAC Goals Youth Conference Policy Components of Youth Programming News

Youth Activities/Programs

1. Coming of Age Program (COA)

This is an ongoing, well-established program for 7-8th graders (formerly 9-12th, and possibly including 6-8th in future years). It lasts for approximately 9 months from Sept.-May. In the past it stood alone as the only teen transition program, but will include the Boston Heritage trip for some participants. The Coming of Age program is designed to help youth articulate their spiritual aspirations, to learn more about UUism and other world religions, to put their beliefs into practice through community service, and to learn more about the Fellowship's history. It is usually offered every other year. COA is begins in September 2006.

2. Our Whole Lives (OWL)

This is the UUA-sanctioned lifespan sexuality education program for 7-8th graders. It takes the place of the program formerly used at UUFA, About Your Sexuality (AYS). It usually occurs every other year when the COA program doesn't occur. OWL involves about 8-12 weeks of weekly 2 hour sessions with youth and 2-4 adult leaders specifically trained to facilitate this program. Parents must attend an orientation before registering their children.

3. Boston Heritage Trip

Our first trip took place in 1998 with 11 youth and 2 adults, Benette Sherman and Brian Eslinger. The trip has been entirely financed through fundraisers and a special Fellowship collection or other donations. Depending on the size of each Boston group, parents may need to pay part of the expenses. The Boston trip will be the culmination of the COA program and will occur every two years. Youth will stay in Boston a few days visiting UU churches, walking the Freedom Trail, and having fun. They then travel to Salem to our host church. We also visit Concord and Walden Pond. The purpose of the trip is to enhance UU identity, learn about early UU history, to build friendships, to build leadership skills, and to have fun.

4. Bridging Ceremonies

This is another term for recognition of graduating seniors during a Sunday service. Seniors are given a rose with thorns (with the realization that sometimes life is prickly ) and a book from the Young Adult Network.

5. Overnights

High school youth can plan and attend overnights at the Fellowship. These are not meant to be all-nighters, but a time when youth can have fun together late into the night. Overnights are chaperoned by two or more adults. Non-UU friends are always welcome.

6. Retreats

High School youth can plan and attend 2-3 weekend retreats at local retreat centers. Retreats run from Sat. morning to Sunday noon, and are supervised by adults. The purpose of retreats is to build and enhance friendships, to explore one's spirituality, and to provide a time for reflection. Activites are planned with these purposes in mind.

7. Field Trips/Outings

Both middle school and high school youth groups may decide to attend a play, movie, musical together. They may also take trips to visit other churches. District youth conferences may fall under this category. Our youth travel to other UU congregations to attend a full weekend of workshops, worships, and other activities which are planned by the hosting youth group. Adults drive youth to conferences and stay with them the entire weekend. There is always a registration fee associated with these youth cons which are the responsibility of the parents. Scholarships may be available.

9. Social Action Projects

Youth sometimes participate as a group in various projects such as Crop Walk, Moon Cookie Coffeehouse productions, and Fellowship events. These projects can occur as part of the RE class or organized by YAC.

10. Youth Group Nights

Youth may elect to plan and attend occasional or regular social group nights, usually on Wednesday nights. The purpose of these nights is to encourage socialization by playing games, watching movies, cooking, or just hanging out. Youth are encouraged to include a spiritual elements such as opening and closing readings or songs.

The Youth-Adult Committee (YAC)
Job Description

Definition: The YAC includes adults and 4 high school students who will be responsible
for planning and assuring implementation of the high school youth program with
the collaboration and consultation of the DYCM.

Reports to: DYCM

Functions: The YAC contains 3 working groups of adults and youth that focus on

Social action (includes Mission trip organization)
Sunday moring RE and Wednesday evening youth groups and retreats
Youth cons and social events such as overnights and field trips

Long Term Goals of Youth-Adult Committee

Offer UUFA space for recurrent meetings among area youth from faith communities for social events; to discuss faith issues; to discuss current events
- Contact Des Moines youth group for social events and for Boston planning
- Contact AJC for social events and for promotion of understanding of each other's faith
- Contact other youth from various faith communities---set up social events with topics for discussion
Research, develop, and plan ongoing "mission" or "deeds, not creeds" project for senior high youth
- Plan and implement Habitat for Humanity trips
- Research possibility of working on mission trips with local church youth groups
- Evaluate efforts and results of mission trips
Choose social action projects to focus on each year
- Decide on what moves youth to action/ where is the passion/ what do they care about/what effects them most
- Develop statement of intent and purpose for project
- Publicize actions
Develop and maintain youth leadership in UUFA
- Plan and conduct Youth Sunday
- Elect youth rep. for Board
- Keep YAC viable and active
- Inform congregation of programs via newsletter and website
- Push social action agenda
Foster spiritual awareness and development for all youth
- Provide opportunities for deeper sharing
- Provide religious education on Sunday mornings
- Design opportunities for spiritual exploration (2-3 retreats a year)
- Develop library for these needs (movies, books, magazines, websites)

Policy on Youth Conferences

Prairie Star District youth conferences are weekend affairs, usually for high school youth. They start on Friday evenings around 9 and finish around noon on Sundays. The conferences are planned and implemented by the sponsoring youth to be a social gathering. There are workshops on Saturday which may include such activities as beading, poetry readings, massage, yoga, ultimate Frisbee, visiting a museum, making all sorts of things, discussions, meditations, etc. There are also several worship services planned throughout the weekend. Youth conferences present an opportunity to solidify UU connections, gain greater self confidence, and develop leadership skills. Some, if not most, conference planning committees have the District YRUU (Young Religious UUs) seal of approval, indicating the planners agree to abide by District YRUU policies.

Adults play an advisory role during the conference. General rules are established for each conference, and there is a conference council to determine when those rules are broken. If rules are broken, the participant can be asked to leave (this may involve all of the group leaving if there is only one driver). Youth who go to conferences are accompanied by at least one adult per 7 youth.

UUFA youth who desire to attend conferences must find adult advisors/drivers. They also must communicate with the youth coordinator/DYCM or other designated youth leader about their intentions to attend and progress on finding drivers. Usually 1-2 youth are responsible for contacting adult advisors with this role changing for each conference. If not enough adults are found to accompany youth, then attendance will be determined by lottery.

While at the conference, UUFA youth demonstrate responsibility by checking in with the adult advisor every few hours just to let them know they're OK. If a youth attends a conference for the first time, UUFA veterans of youth conferences should be inclusive and try to help this person in meeting people. Likewise, adults should also attempt to make the new person comfortable in the setting by chatting with them, playing cards, taking a walk, etc.

Adult drivers/advisors must sign a code of ethics before leaving and be given the Expectations of Adult Advisors form. They must be 25 years of age or older and have current liability insurance and a safe driving record. Adult registration is paid by UUFA from the RE or youth budget. Youth should contribute gas money.

The Five Components of Balanced Youth Group Programming

(Adapted from the Youth Advisors' Handbook by Shell Tain, published by the UUA)

Worship	Community Building	Social Action	Learning	Leadership
Red is for worship; the heart, compassion, and love we share together. Don't forget the R in YRUU is for religious. YRUU is a spiritual and religious home for youth. Worship is an important and sacred part of many UU youth events. Youth worship tends to be interactive and non-traditional. It often takes place in a circle, with sharing as a focus. Many youth groups also put on Youth Sunday worship services in their congregations. Worship is a time and place where we can share YRUU spirituality and caring with the larger community.	In literature, yellow is the color of memory and reminiscence. It honors our friends and loved ones, and the social aspects of youth programs. Community building, or socializing, is a time for people to get to know one another, time devoted to "hanging out". Some of the most valuable experiences in YRUU happen during social activities. This is the time to bond together, share values, establish trust, generate intimacy, and practice acceptance. Community building is the time to share our liberal religious values by getting to know one another.	Green is the color for treating the earth and each other responsibly. Green is for social action. Because youth have passionate opinions about social issues, the youth in this denomination have been at the forefront of social activities. YRUU is a place for youth to express and explore our values, to put actions behind our concerns. Social action projects are an important way for YRUUers to put hands and feet on our principles while having fun.	In some eastern philosophies, blue represents intellectual growth and mental energy. Almost every aspect of YRUU can provide learning experiences for youth. RE curricula are great resources for learning in YRUU. However, curricula do not provide only learning opportunities for youth. YRUU is a great place for discussion - sparked by the topic of a guest speaker, movie, or youth's own experience. YRUU is a safe place to expand our horizons and to learn more about the world around us.	Purple, the color of royalty, represents leadership and self-governance. One of the biggest contributions YRUU makes to our denomination is the development of youth leadership. YRUU is primarily a youth led organization in which youth have the opportunity to learn and practice their leadership skills. Leadership in YRUU is different from other models of leadership in our culture. In YRUU, leadership is about learning how to work together, facilitate, reach our consensus, foster cooperation, and make sure every person gets heard.

Youth News

Back to Top Youth Programs What is YAC? YAC Goals Youth Conference Policy Components of Youth Programming News

last updated: January 4, 2008
webmaster@uufames.org.