Hey Youth and Parents!

We kicked off the year with a water slide and continue to keep the energy high! SpiritJam is BVUUF’s new model of religious education. The

School of the Spirit offers multi-generational workshops called Jams that relate to the congregation-wide theme.  Middle and high school youth will participate and help lead the activities, as well as participate in leadership development and bonding activities just for them! (Get updates here: SpiritJam)

We have successfully launched Our Whole Lives this year where we explored language and values and attended the 9th Annual Standing on the Side of Love service with hundreds of other UUs on the Denver Capitol steps. Thanks to Scott McCollom and Luis Uribe for volunteering as OWL facilitators and to Heather Munro for jumping in when needed. We are looking for future OWL facilitators! There will be a training in Denver Dec 5-7. Please let Katie (directorre@bvuuf.org) know if you are considering it.

Coming of Age has kicked off the year with an Opening Ceremony led by Rev. Lydia and a wonderful retreat in the Hook family mountain condo. We explored different spiritual practices with our wonderful guides: Laura Murray, Linda Spencer, and Michael Newman. 

We are ready to launch the 2015 Mission Trip – An opportunity to live our mission in the world. Check out the info below!!

Upcoming events:

Babysitting List

Youth are invited to add their information to the BVUUF Babysitting List!  We share this list with BVUUF members upon request for meetings or caring for their children. Please let me know if you would like a link.

BVUUF Mission Trip 2015: BorderLinks

What: We are getting ready for this year’s mission trip with BorderLinks!  This is not an opportunity to convert people, rather an opportunity to immerse Unitarian Universalist youth in what it means to live out Unitarian Universalist values of building a just and compassionate world.

BorderLinks is a nonprofit educational organization in Tucson that focuses on cross-border relationship building opportunities, issues of immigration, community formation and development, and social justice in the borderlands between Mexico, the U.S., and beyond.

We will be partnering with BorderLinks to learn about immigration in our communities and do a service project in the borderlands. Check out the BVUUF Mission Trip website for details.

Where: BorderLinks, Tucson, AZ and Hogar de Esperanza y Paz (HEPAC – House of Hope and Peace), Nogales, Mexico
When: Wednesday, June 10 – Sunday, June, 15, 2015
Who: BVUUF rising 9th-12th graders (Summer 2015)
How much: Youth raise their fee through fundraisers ($1300). Donate now!
Safety:  Safety Statement of Borderlinks.
Itinerary: The 6 day trip is being developed for us. Our group will be involved in education about issues and also hands on helping at HEPAC.

*Get a photographic preview on Nov. 2 at 12:30 at the BVUUF Immigration Task Force Forum*

APPLY now for the 2015 Borderlinks Mission Trip!

DONATE to the Youth Mission Trip Fund now!

Leadership Development Con

Facilitated by DRE Jessica Laike and youth Isabella Cass and Larissa Hunt, this training will provide you with facilitation skills, a clear understanding of what it means to be a spiritual leader and prepare you for leadership positions in your congregation, the district, and at cons.

Where: High Plains Unitarian Universalist Church, Colorado Springs, CO
When: Friday, Dec 5th at 5:30pm to Sunday, Dec 7 at 3:00pm

More detail about this CON is available here.

UU Summer Camp: Quuest/Spirit Quuest

What: An awesome summer camp where there are:

• Workshops & immersion experiences exploring beloved community
• Times for personal reflection & developing your spiritual practice
• Field games, crafts & swimming every day, bonfires every night

When:
Spirit Quuest (rising Middle School): July 12 – 18, 2015
Quuest (rising High School): July 19 – 25, 2015

Where: Our location is changing to the awesome Buckhorn Camp. It is in Bellvue Colorado. This shift benefits the campers and staff in many ways.

Who:
Campers: Middle Schoolers entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade in 2015-16 = Spirit Quuest
Campers: High Schoolers entering 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th or graduating in 2015-16 = QUUEST
Director: The One, the Only, the Amazing Beth Chronister will direct Spirit Quuest and Quuest Camps.

Registration: Will be online by February, 2015!