Children and Youth
What Do We Do?
We use story, song, ritual, drama, contemplation, conversation, creative play, curated curricula and covenant to grow in faith together. Worship, community building and justice work are integral parts of our program.
Religious Education at UUCA looks like working in the garden, shaping clay for chalices, acting out the story of Rosa Parks, assembling “blessing bags”, making prayer beads, visiting other houses of worship, drumming, discussing UU values and current cultural happenings, exploring our deeply held personal beliefs, doing yoga, and sharing LOTS of stories.
What Are Our Goals?
Our program seeks to provide children and their families support on their spiritual journey as part of our Unitarian Universalist community while exploring the following questions about our faith:
- Who are we? (principles, values, beliefs)
- Where do we come from? (history, sources)
- How do we live our values? (spiritual practices, outreach)
Sundays and Religious Education
For more information about Religious Education for your child, and to register for classes, please visit our Sunday RE page.
Child Care
Having paid childcare staff allows us to offer high quality care and peace of mind to the families that use our childcare services. Whether it is a regular Sunday morning, a church event, or an evening group, parents can be assured that their children are being cared for by loving, attentive, and conscientious staff. We believe that whole family church participation is vital and we are dedicated to making this possible for families. Child care is offered every Sunday morning and at other church events whenever possible. For more details about child care and how to request it, click on the Childcare Policy link below.
Expectations of Parents/Guardians
Including illness and vaccine policies
Childcare Policy
Religious Education Volunteer
We are proud to offer a large and vibrant RE program and there are many ways to be involved:
- Teach a class
- Sign up as an assistant
- Join the RE Council
- Decorate a bulletin board
- Maintain the “Soul Work” packets children use on Sunday mornings
- Help plan and implement All Ages events
- Organize and tidy our spaces
To volunteer or for more information, contact Jen Johnson (LREAsst@UUAsheville.org) or Kim Collins (LREC@UUAsheville.org).
Leadership Opportunities for Children and Youth
Our children are the future AND the present! Kids, want to lead church? Here are some ways to be involved:
- Ring the chime and light the chalice in the worship service
- Be a greeter or usher
- Plan and lead a Wednesday Thing activity or Vespers
- Create art for our bulletin boards and other church spaces
- Offer music for a worship service or The Wednesday Thing
- Lead a Summer Sunday activity
- Be a Worship Associate or Time for All Ages leader
- Help plan a multigenerational worship service
- Organize a youth group activity
- Lead an RE class session or activity some Sunday – your own grade or for a younger group
- Coordinate a social justice project
- Become a member – join UUCA after completing Coming of Age and enjoy voting privileges and responsibilities
- Help care for our youngest in the Nursery or PreK rooms
- Be a PAL or counselor at The Mountain Youth Conference (CON) or Camp
- Behind-the-scenes organizing/cleaning/office work
- Help at a UUCA grounds clean-up day – and bring your family and friends
How do YOU want to lead? Contact Jen Johnson at LREAsst@UUAsheville.org if you are interested in any of these or to chat about your own idea.
Other UU Youth Events
Cons/Camps: UUCA supports our kids getting out into the broader UU world to connect w/ other young UUs from around the region. Adults (over 25) wanted as chaperone/advisors! Please review our Healthy Congregation before contacting LREC@UUAsheville.org.
The Mountain Youth Conferences (CONs): at The Mountain, a retreat and learning center just 2 hours away in Highlands, NC. We typically send a van full of kids 2x/ year in Fall and Spring to a weekend-long fun and experiential bonding and special UU immersed place. Find out more information at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center
Contact Anna Martin at anna.ward.martin@gmail.com if interested in attending this 2019-20 year.
NOTE: there is also a summer MountainCamp each year. See their website.
The Charlotte Youth CON: High schoolers invited to attend this youth-led 20+ year tradition in Charlotte, NC. Meet some new UU teens. Contact Kim Collins if interested in attending this year.
Coming of Age (CoA): Every year our Coming of Age (CoA) youth (a special 9th-10th grade program) venture beyond Asheville to experience UUism outside their comfort zone. Past trips have included a Boston Heritage trip; General Assembly in New Orleans and Kansas City; and a service trip to NY w/ UU meet-ups in VA and NY. Open to the youth in the CoA class.
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