Our Vision of Religious Exploration

We strive to provide a Religious Exploration program that encourages spiritual growth and development, and grounds our children and youth in Unitarian Universalist principles and values. We commit ourselves to fostering a supportive and respectful environment of lifespan learning in which we promote and model the skills for being in community, and for living ethically in our changing world.

Our UU Principles for Kids

• Each and every person is important
• All people should be treated fairly
• In our Fellowship, we accept one another and learn together
• Each person is free to search for what is true and right
• Everyone deserves the right to speak out and vote on things that matter to them
• We work for a peaceful, fair and free world
• We care for our planet Earth and every living thing that shares it with us

The Six Sources

• These ideas come from many places:
• the sense of wonder we all share
• women and men long ago and today whose lives remind us to be kind and fair
• the ethical and spiritual wisdom of the world’s religions
• Jewish and Christian teachings which tell us to love all others as we love ourselves
• the use of reason and the discoveries of science
• the harmony of nature and the sacred circle of life
• faithful words and actions that shape our Unitarian and Universalist heritage

Program Descriptions

On Sunday mornings we offer programs for children and youth of all ages. High quality child care for infants and young children up to age 3 (and older during adult activities) is provided by paid child care workers. Individualized attention with appropriate toys and activities are provided to help create a safe and comforting environment.

Our Sunday morning program for children and youth explores a variety of themes, grounded in our principles and philosophy of religious exploration. The program is led by a team of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer teachers. We follow an experiential learning model and offer a range of learning opportunities in each session, including arts activities, cooperative games, nature activities, and group sharing and discussion. The class groups are: Spirit Play Group (Jr Kindergarten to Grade 3), Seeker Group (Grades 3-5) and Jr. Youth Group (Grades 6-8).

Our Youth Group (Grades 9 and up) meets on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Under the supervision of Kim Thomas, Youth Advisor, our youth are encouraged to develop their own program and to share their talents with the fellowship through special projects such as youth–led services. Youth also have the opportunity to connect with other UU youth by attending regional conferences. Two weekends each year, youth in Grades 10-12 have the opportunity to participate in the Our Whole Lives sexuality education program hosted by the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa.

Volunteer Participation

Volunteer involvement is integral to our cooperative religious exploration program and we encourage your participation. Whatever your schedule or talents, we have a place for you, as part of a teaching team, assisting in the nursery or preschool groups, sharing a particular gift or talent with the children, or planning special events. Please contact Ben Wolfe, Religious Exploration Coordinator or Lauren Midgley, Religious Exploration Committee Chair to discuss your interest in the program.