Our Program serves children of all ages — infant through high school are welcome!

Nursery
Infants through age three can enjoy free play, music, snack, and story time guided by the Nursery Managers.

Programming

Three types of programming curricula are being used from within the UU denomination for PreK through 8th grade: “Spirit Play”, “Spirit of Adventure” and “Compass Points”. The programs cover major themes of Unitarian Universalist identity, world religions, JudeoChristian heritage, social justice, earth stewardship and provide opportunities for worshipful reverence as well as incorporate arts and crafts, music, large body movement, cooperative activities, discussion, quiet times and meditation.

Spirit Play

Spirit Play is being used at the 9:15 and 11 am services for the PreK through 2nd grade group. Spirit Play is a Montessori-inspired approach to Unitarian Universalist Religious Education. The developers of this program saw “the purpose of religious education as helping children in living into their own answers to the existential questions: Where did we come from? What are we doing here? What is our purpose? How do we choose to live our lives? What are our gifts? How do we use them? What happens when we die? Why do we die? Why are we lonely and sad sometimes?”

“As in Montessori, the key elements are the classroom environment and the teachers. These elements free the children to work at their own pace on their own issues.”

The team teacher/guide is the “Storyteller” and the assistant is the “Door Keeper”. The “Door Keeper” greets the children and helps them get ready to enter the classroom as they come in. Using parables to connect children to Unitarian Universalism’s rich and diverse tradition, the “Storyteller” leads the circle in the story of the day, using props, followed by wondering. Children choose an art response or use a story previously heard, helped by the Storyteller or Door Keeper.

“Doorkeepers” are needed from all across the fellowship: parents, members without children in the program, and teens, all of whom have been attending for six months.

The orientation on September 14th will include information on being a Doorkeeper. All are welcome to attend. Sign ups will be sent around in September.

Spirit of Adventure

Spirit of Adventure is being used at the 9:15 and 11 am services for the 3rd through 5th grade group. This interactive multi-age curriculum uses active play to teach the seven UU principles via the themes of sports, medicine, food, science, building, exploring, holidays and web of life. The overall goals of the Spirit of Adventure: UU Identity curriculum are to:
- Teach UU identity with an interactive curriculum focusing on learning through physical movement, challenge and adventure
- Connect the weekly topics and stories to the seven UU Principles
- Celebrate the holiday traditions of our UU faith movement and the SPUUF congregation
- Encourage children to interact with their community and the world around them, and as they do so, to grow both spiritually and ethically.

More information about Spirit of Adventure will be given during the orientation on September 14th at 12:30 in Dodd Hall. Sign ups for assisting will be sent around starting in September.

Junior High Group — Compass Points (11 am only)
The 6th through 8th grade group will be continuing “Compass Points” from the previous year. “Compass Points” gives participants opportunities to discover what they believe about life’s big questions, think independently, assume responsibility, make decisions, explore values and adopt the practice of radical hospitality; acquire enough background in Unitarian Universalist history, polity and theology that they can know and express what Unitarian Universalism stands for; and understand that religious liberty is a hard won legacy that continues to need protection.

Senior High Youth Group (grades 9 - 12)

The Senior High class has adopted the “Five Flames of the Chalice” for strong youth groups from the YRUU office at the UUA: Worship, Community Building, Social Action, Learning and Leadership. Through the concept of youth empowerment and these five components, youth are encouraged to grow socially, spiritually, intellectually and to put our UU principles into action. The youth group meets on Sundays at noon and on varying weekday evenings. The schedule can be seen on the calendar at www.hunterdonuu.org.

For more detailed information please read the RE Prospectus. To download a registration form, click here. For questions or other information, contact our DRE, Kim Mason, at fuufhc.dre at gmail.com or 908-996-3964.