High School
Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU)
Our high school youth group, Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU), is our Congregation’s opportunity for all interested youth in grades 9-12 to have fun, share spiritual interests, and serve others.
Meetings, held most Sunday evenings, begin with a check-in when teens share thoughts, feelings, and experiences in confidentiality, and in an environment of acceptance and support. Planning of future events is followed by games and other activities.
Once a month, youth and advisors have an OOCE (Out Of Church Experience) such as laser tag, bowling, tubing, hiking, or other fun activity.
Other events include fundraisers, service projects, an annual coffeehouse fundraiser, and often a regional youth convention or “CON” meeting at a nearby UU congregation, or at the Mountain Retreat in North Carolina. The YRUU teens also lead a youth Bridging Service each year during the Sunday morning service.
At least once every four years, YRUU will take a trip to learn more about UU history and to further explore their own identities as UUs. In the past this has included trips to Boston to explore our heritage, or to General Assembly. In 2023, YRUU went to Pittsburgh for GA, and plans to go to Baltimore in 2025.
Youth empowerment is an important goal of YRUU. Teens gain the ability and agency to make decisions and create change in their own lives and in the lives of other people.
Youth and adult advisors form partnerships that ultimately allow youth to:
- express themselves publicly
- gain respect for adult allies
- express their creativity
- work for a good causes
- think critically
- contribute to the congregation and larger community
Learn more about Youth programs from the UUA.
Teen Teacher Assistants
Youth in grades 9-12 are invited to join a religious education teaching team as an assistant in the classroom. Youth are welcomed as team members and are a tremendous asset to the program, as the young children look up to them as role models. The teens gain leadership skills while remaining active in the life of the congregation. Learn more from DLFD Rachel Craine.