Youth and Family Ministry
The intention of this page is to share upcoming events for the regional youth program and resources for the adults who serve our youth. Unity youth ministry honors the perfection of each child and teen in our program. Our lessons are based on the Living Curriculum model that acknowledges that each person already has everything they need within them. Our role is to create opportunities for spiritual reflection and growth as we share Unity tools for Heart-Centered living. In Myrtle Fillmore’s words:
Our mission is not to entertain the children, but to call them out. To be always entertained is to be dwarfed and dependent. To be “called out” is to follow the harmonious law of the soul’s unfoldment. Who meddles with the rosebud? What fingers are deft enough to pry open that marvel of folded beauty? We are wise enough to leave it alone to follow the glad law of its own unfolding, but our children! Have we dealt as wisely with these buds of marvelous possibilities? Have we always remembered that they, too, must quicken and unfold through the innate law of their own genius? Myrtle Fillmore, co-founder of Unity
GENERAL INFORMATION / OVERVIEW
Our programs are divided into three ministries:
Children’s ministry (Unitots, Unikids)—for infants through 5th grade
Uniteens—for those in grades 6–8
Youth of Unity (Y.O.U.) —for those in grades 9–12
YFM Training and Credentialing
You can also find some beautiful coloring pages at the Unity Arts Ministry Page. Each page has a picture and an inspirational quote. They are a beautiful reminder to be in the moment.
https://unityartsministry.org/inspirational-coloring-pages/
Southwest Unity Regional Youth & Teen Ministry Events Director
Angie Keyes
949-584-3556
youth@unityswregion.org
Background Checks
All adults who will be attending Regional and/or Sub-Regional Events where minors are present are required to obtain a National Background Screening. All churches in California are required by law to register with LiveScan through the Department of Justice. All employees of the church and anyone who works with youth ministry are required to obtain a LiveScan background check. Please contact Angie Keyes with any questions.
TEEN EVENT INFORMATION
The Southwest Unity Region’s Teen Ministry is comprised of middle-school and high-school teens, and the adults who support them. We enthusiastically seek Spiritual Truth as we share, support, celebrate and pray with one another.
Uniteens
Each year we have Uniteen Summer Camp for our Middle School aged congregants. As we grow our Uniteens, more events will be available. Please connect with Angie Keyes if you are interested in helping support our Uniteen programs.
YOU
Policy Guidelines for Events
Our regional events are supported by adult volunteers from churches around the SW Region who give of their time to support our programs.
Special Needs:
While we value every teen who attends our Unity churches, we do not have the resources for 1:1 support at our regional events. Our events are designed for teens who are able to transition easily between activities, contribute to discussions, participate in group activities, and be independent in their care. In addition, if a teen has a high level of anxiety that interferes with participation, and requires 1:1 support, it is encouraged that the teen continue attending their local church and consider attending a regional event when they can better enjoy the event and participate while feeling safe and relaxed. Please discuss individual situations with the Regional Teen Consultant.
Medications:
It is our policy that at camp events our wellness person collects and distributes all medications at the event registration check-in. This is to help ensure that everyone receives their proper medications, that they take the correct dose, and that the medications are not accessible to other participants. Since most everyone participating is a minor, it is our goal that participants stay safe and are cared for.
In addition to an announcement at our opening, there is a general announcement at our evening vespers to see our Wellness person for medications before returning to their cabin; and all nightly cabin meetings begin with making sure everyone who needs to see Wellness for medication has done so. This is the same for our morning celebration as well. For home-hosted events, teens will be reminded by sponsors to take their medications; sponsors will have a list of medications and allergies for each individual.
Please note: If a teen is on medication(s) that cause them to be unconscious, or hard to wake or move, it is not within our scope of training and staffing to be able to support them during an event. Please discuss individual cases with the Regional Teen Consultant.
Dietary:
Please be aware that every special diet request cannot be accommodated, particularly when at rented camp facilities unless there is a life-threatening food allergy. Events will be able to accommodate: vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets. A combination of any of those diets cannot be guaranteed. It is encouraged that individuals with very specific special diets bring their own foods. Refrigeration is dependent upon availability at each event. Again, life-threatening food allergies have priority.
Refunds:
Refunds cannot be given in full when a cancellation is less than 2 weeks before the event. If the cancellation occurs between 2 weeks prior and the event start, a portion of the registration cost can be applied toward the next event or an event in that program year. The amount of money that may be applied toward another event will be listed on registration materials, usually 30% of the registration cost. A full refund will not be given at any time when the cancellation is less than 2 weeks prior to the start of the event.