Youth classes grades 6th-8th and 9th-12th

On the second, third, and fourth (or fifth) Sundays of each month, these classes will be using the curriculum Neighboring Faiths by Christine Reed and Patricica Hoertdoerfer. Our high school youth have not had an opportunity to experience this wonderful curriculum, so they will be working on the same curriculum as the junior high youth. The senior high class (grades 9th-12th) will spend the visitation time (fieldtrips) with the junior high class (grades 6th-8th), but each (junior high & senior high classes) will be in their own class on the follow up class after the faith community visit.

The Neighboring Faiths curriculum will be tweaked to fit the developmental needs of the senior high youth. “Inspired by the UU classic, Church Across the Street, this yearlong curriculum helps youth learn about their own Faith and other faith traditions through interactive experience such as field trips and interviews. These encounters with other religions are given meaning through periods of reflection and discussion about Unitarian Universalist and personal beliefs and values.”

Junior high youth will follow this curriculum as well, again, visitation of other faith communities will be with the senior high youth, but follow up discussions will happen in a separate junior high (6th-8th) class.

Field trip permission forms must be filled out by parent(s)/guardian(s) before youth are able to travel to and from MVUUF on fieldtrip days. Some fieldtrips will take place outside of Sunday morning classes, and some on Sunday mornings but outside of normal YRE time (11:00am-12:15pm).

Youth are highly encouraged to attend as many Neighboring Faiths classes as possible each month. This way, they will have a better understanding of the faith communities they are visiting as well as have a time to discuss what they experienced on their fieldtrips. It is highly discouraged for youth to only attend the field trip segment of this curriculum. Youth attending as many Neighboring Faiths classes as possible will also ensure they know what is going on each month (when & where for fieldtrips as well as expectations). Youth may need to follow certain dress codes when visiting other faith communities.

This is such a great curriculum; we hope all youth are able to fully participate in this year’s program!