Our youth group is for teens from 7th -12th grade. The goals for youth group are much the same as those for the smaller children where we are teaching the kids to discern what is true and right for them but not telling them to believe anything. Youth group is co-facilitated with youth and adults. This means those youth that want it are given leadership roles. The adults are called the youth group advisors, this is important language as those adults are not the teachers but co-facilitating with the youth to give them space to learn grow and speak their truth.

Youth group revolves around the 6 pillars of youth ministry

• Building Community
• Social Action
• Worship
• Learning,
• Congregational Involvement

To make sure we are connecting with each pillar, each year our youth are given an opportunity to provide a list of topic that they would like to discuss. They also provide a list of service activates they would like to participate in. They then provide a list of fun activities they want to enjoy together. Finally, they do spiritual work for themselves and the congregation. Once the lists are created, through the democratic process the adults and youth get to pick their favorite and this is what drives the youth year.

Some examples of topics are

• Religious values voting
• Carreers
• Endangered species
• Mental Health
• Cancel Culture
• Urban Legends
• Racial inequality

Some examples of service projects have been

• pulling invasive weeds around the church
• Adopt a Highway Clean up
• making a meal for Ronald McDonald
• providing a meal for the men’s shelter
• Making blankets for children’s hopital
• helping out at an animal sanctuary
• raising funds for a Trans youth who needed a name change

Some of our fun activities have been

• Church lock in sleep over
• Annual corn maze
• Movie night
• game night
• ski retreat
• hiking retreat
• Annual Christmas party gift exchange

Some of their spiritual endeavors include

• Bridging in the new youth at the beginning of the church year
• Creating a full Sunday Service for the congregation
• Leading worship services for the you during retreats and over nights
• Participating in Time for All Ages for the little ones
• Leading the annual Easter egg hunt
• Participating in the bridging of those seniors who are moving on to young adults

All of these activities fit in to one or more of the pillars.

Youth group is a great opportunity to connect with like minded folks their age in a safe and loving environment. Youth who participate regularly can create life long bonds find a special place to grow and become young adults.

The youth typically meet on 4th Sunday of each month during church, but may be be asked to come at other times or to go on activities on days other than Sunday.

If you have a 7-12th grader interested in joining our youth group, please contact our Director of Religious Educations at [email protected]

Youth group advisor are always needed and can be one of the most rewarding volunteer positions in our church. Advisors co-facilitate and learn as much from the youth as the youth do from the advisors. Being around UU youth, can give an adult you faith in the future, makes them laugh, and provide them with very important opportunities to play. Teenagers can be intimidating to some, but in this environment, both the teen and the adult hold each other with respect and kindness. It truly is a beautiful thing to be a part of. If you are interested in being a youth advisor. Please contact our director of religious educator at [email protected]