Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Lifelong Learning at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship:

Extracurricular Programs for Children and Youth

The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship offers several programs for children and youth that go above and beyond the Sunday School experience.  Children and Youth must be registered in our Religious Education Program in order to be eligible to participate in these programs and rites of passage.

Peace on Earth Summer Camp

The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship hosts a summer camp for children in our community. This year’s Camp, held at the Tennant Lake Interpretive Center, featured “water” as our theme for activities and activism. The curriculum was built on the foundation of our Seventh UU Principle stating that we have “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we all are a part.”

This year’s camp theme added a bit to that principle stating “We will help take care of our world with an emphasis on habitat, sustainability and peace.”

Campers created and presented a theatrical and musical performance; designed and painted flower planters for BUF as a service project under the leadership of our high school leader, Alicia Mildner; created a beautiful quilt that will be used for ambiance in our sanctuary; and wrote the following letter to the editor encouraging the people of Whatcom County to care for our water resources …

Dear Ferndale Record editor, We are Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship’s “Peace on Earth” campers, ages seven to ten -years-old, and we are learning about water at Tennant Lake at our fun day camp! Our dream is to keep our earth clean, help the animals and save the earth. Some of us dream of being President. We want to share some of our ideas with you!
Please: Use water wisely. Reuse your water and share your water. Don’t use a lot of water when you are in a bath or shower. Try to help the oil spill. Plant trees, don’t litter and help animals. Help the environment and do not pollute the water. “Peace on Earth” Campers Alice, Anabelle, Ava, Dylan H., Dylan P., Erin, Halina, Jiahuan, Josie, Marley, Matthew, Max, Megan, Nicole, Olivia, Owen, Rosie, Stella and Tate

Children’s Music Program

We have a new ministry team in our congregation whose mission is to bring music to all levels of programming for children and youth!  They met all summer long planning activities. They have created CDs which are being used by our teachers during classes for opening and closing songs each Sunday.  They also participate in Children’s Worship services to bring more depth and spirituality to those gatherings.   And there are now 3 new choirs (based on age) led by Beth Beyers that rehearse between services (from 10:30 to 11:15) and perform for the congregation.  There is a youth band led by Chad Nuckles-Flinn.  Please watch the Midweek Updates for more information about choir and band rehearsals as well as performance schedules!

Our Whole Lives (OWL—Comprehensive Sexuality Education)

OWL is a comprehensive sexuality curriculum that has several complete courses that make it appropriate for people of all ages!  The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship offers several of these classes on a rotating basis by age.  This year we will be offering a formal session of Our Whole Lives to our 4th and 5th graders beginning after Christmas.  Watch the Midweek Updates for more information!

Coming of Age

This is an extracurricular program for 7th and 8th graders who will be invited to explore their UU Identity’s with an adult mentor. The program includes personal growth and limit testing (ropes course and retreats), spiritual development and worship planning, social responsibility and action projects, and community building. The program culminates in a worship service where the youth share their credo statements with the congregation. This program will begin begin with an orientation for parents, kids, and mentors on November 14th. If you have a child in grades 7-8 and you would like more information about this program, please contact Crystal Neva at uuneva@gmail.com.

Many hands are needed to offer our inspiring programs; if you would like to volunteer in Lifelong Learning, contact Crystal Neva.

All Lifelong Learning Programs at BUF promote leadership development, respectful communication, global and social awareness, creativity and fun!