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Philosophy of the Youth Program

Balanced youth program

At a national conference youth collaborated with adult advisors to create six components of a balanced youth group. Our YRUU program seeks to incorporate these elements in our youth program.

Worship

Red is for worship; the heart, compassion, and the love we share together.

The "R" in YRUU is for religious. YRUU is a spiritual and religious home for youth. Worship is an important and sacred part of many UU youth events. Youth worship tends to be interactive and non-traditional. It often takes place in a circle, with sharing as a focus. Our EUUC youth group develops and leads a Youth Sunday worship service with the congregation. Worship is a time and place where we can share YRUU spirituality and caring with the larger community.

Youth-Adult relations

Orange is for the warmth of the bond between youth and their elders

Good relations are essential to youth empowerment. YRUU communities, where youth and adults work together and have power with each other, have huge potential. Intergenerational environments encourage all of the other components of youth programming. Youth and adults can learn from each other, experience youth worship, build community, empower each other to lead, and make a difference in the world through social action.

Community building

In literature, yellow is often the color of memory and reminiscence.

It honors our friends and loved ones and the social aspects of youth programs. Community building, or socializing, is a time for people to get to know one another, time devoted to "hanging out." Some of the most valuable experiences in YRUU happen during social activities. This is the time to bond together, share values, establish trust, generate intimacy, and practice acceptance. Community building is the time to share our liberal religious values by getting to know one another and people in our larger community.

Social action

Green is the color for treating the earth and each other responsibly in social action.

These projects are an important way for our youth to put hands and feet on our principles while having fun. YRUU is a place for our youth to express and explore our UU values and to put action behind our concerns. Because our youth have passionate opinions about social issues, EUUC's youth have been at the forefront of social action activities.

Learning

In some eastern philosophies, blue represents intellectual growth and mental energy.

YRUU is a great place for discussion — sparked by the topic of the day, a guest speaker, movie, or from youth's own experiences. YRUU is a safe place to expand horizons and to learn more about the world around us and inside us. Almost every aspect of YRUU can provide learning experiences for youth; indeed everything that goes on at church can be considered curricula. Printed curricular resources are helpful, and learning opportunities for youth come in many forms.

Leadership

Purple, the color of royalty, represents leadership and self-governance.

One of biggest contributions YRUU makes to our denomination is the development of youth leadership. Our EUUC youth are engaged in developing leadership, learning how to work together to reach consensus, fostering cooperation, practicing facilitation, making sure that every person is heard.  Youth and advisors work in partnership, and youth have the opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills.

Questions?

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Layne Richard-Hammock, Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE)