Teens
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Register here for 2023-24 programming
Youth Group Grades 8+
mOST Sundays 10:30-12:00
Room 9 of the Portable Bldg
Grades 8-12
Our youth group welcomes teens throughout the school year. It emphasizes spiritual deepening, social action, worship, leadership and community building. Working alongside their youth advisors, teens play an integral part in planning their own programming.
Coming Of Age (COA)
Scheduled for spring 2024-may 2025
Grades 8+
COA Class of 2025 is still accepting more teens. Learn more at COA 2025 Preview or contact DLRE@hoirzonuu.org about this extended COA experience.
Coming of Age is an exploration of identity and what Unitarian Universalism means to our each of our teens personally. Offered every other year, it is a journey of discovery and discernment of beliefs, values and religious identity. The class strives to lead youth to live out Horizon’s mission, to link beliefs and values with actions, give teens “roots” in Unitarian Universalism and “wings” to serve others, and become active members of the Horizon community.
At the end of the course, each youth crafts a statement of personal belief and action called a Credo. The class plans and presents a worship service in late spring and presents their Credos to the congregation. The year culminates in a heritage trip to the Boston area in early summer to visit sites important to Unitarian Universalism. They’ll have some fun, too, exploring Boston, riding the T (subway) and seeing a performance of the Blue Man Group.
Want to learn more about COA? See slides from a previous information session
Summer Service Trip
next trip Spring 2025
Middle and High School-Aged youth
Youth can often participate in a summer service-learning trip. Future trips may involve a historical Civil Rights driving tour of Tennessee and Alabama or traveling to Oklahoma or New Mexico to partner with local tribes.
Here are examples of trips from the past:
In July 2019 teens traveled to New Orleans and the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal. They learned about racial and environmental justice issues, and spent time in the community advocating for and helping others.
In June 2018 Horizon youth traveled to Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas and experienced what it was like to live in a developing country by spending time in their Global Village. The teens also explored the realities world hunger and income inequality, and were empowered to make a difference in their own communities.