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Our Youth Religious Education program at the First Unitarian Church of Northwest Indiana provides a supportive, engaging environment for young people to explore their spirituality, develop their sense of justice, and build lifelong values. Through interactive lessons, discussions, and activities, children and youth are encouraged to ask questions, reflect on their beliefs, and learn about diverse spiritual traditions. We strive to nurture compassion, critical thinking, and a commitment to making the world a better place, all while fostering a strong sense of community and belonging.

What to Expect
Spiritual Exploration isn’t about giving kids the answers—it’s about giving them the space to discover their own. Our age-based sessions include:

  • Storytelling, myth, and wisdom from global spiritual traditions

  • Art projects, games, movement, and hands-on learning

  • Conversations about identity, fairness, and what it means to live ethically

  • Activities that celebrate the seasons, the Earth, and our shared values

  • Opportunities to engage in service, leadership, and intergenerational connection

Our programming blends Unitarian Universalist curricula with responsive, real-world topics—always encouraging wonder, community, and kindness.

Our Core Values in Spiritual Exploration

Our Spiritual Exploration program is more than Sunday lessons—it's a journey of values that guide our children and youth as they grow into compassionate, thoughtful, and courageous individuals.

We believe that questions are sacred.
Children are naturally curious, and we honor that by encouraging open-ended inquiry. We don’t teach children what to think—we support them in how to think. We explore the big questions:

  • Why are we here?

  • What is fair?

  • What does love look like in action?

Rather than offering a single truth, we provide a safe space to explore many perspectives and form individual beliefs.

We teach young people how to pause, reflect, and consider.
Instead of memorizing dogma, we practice mindful thinking. Reflection may happen through meditation, journaling, storytelling, or simply sitting with a big idea. Our goal is to develop emotionally intelligent, self-aware people who understand that their actions and beliefs are interconnected.

Spiritual growth must lead to real-world change.
Our kids learn that faith means showing up—for each other and for our communities. Whether it’s through environmental awareness, kindness campaigns, food drives, or learning about systemic injustice, we teach that justice is a spiritual act. Even our youngest children are empowered to make a difference.

You are loved, just as you are.
Children in our program know they are valued not for what they do, believe, or achieve—but for simply being themselves. We create a space where:

  • LGBTQ+ identities are affirmed

  • Neurodiversity and disability inclusion is practiced

  • Cultural and family differences are celebrated

  • Every voice matters, no one is “othered”

Belonging here means you never have to earn your place.

We draw from across the world’s wisdom traditions.
From the teachings of the Buddha to stories of Jewish resistance, from Earth-centered rituals to humanist ethics, we expose children to the diverse ways people have made meaning throughout history. This fosters not only knowledge—but respect, empathy, and global citizenship.

Every moment is an opportunity to care.
We teach kindness not as a vague goal, but as an everyday practice. In group agreements, how we listen to one another, how we speak up, how we repair harm—we model and practice compassion constantly. It’s not just a feeling. It’s a choice, and a skill that grows with use.

Safe & Welcoming Spaces
All team members and volunteers undergo background checks and are trained in inclusive, trauma-informed practices. Our classrooms are welcoming to LGBTQ+ families, neurodiverse learners, and children with different abilities and learning styles.

Age Groups
We offer inclusive programming tailored to different stages of development:

  • Nursery & Pre-K (ages 0–4): Gentle care and simple stories that center love and kindness.

  • Children (grades K–5): Interactive sessions rooted in curiosity, empathy, and spiritual exploration.

  • Youth (grades 6–12): Reflective discussions, community building, justice-focused projects, and leadership opportunities.

Youth are invited to take part in regional UU youth events, as well as collaborate on worship services and church-wide initiatives.

Join Us!

Spiritual Exploration meets on Sunday mornings during the 10:00 AM worship service. New families are always welcome—no registration is required to visit. Stop by our welcome table or talk to a member of the Spiritual Exploration Team to learn more and get connected.