Building Bridges Supporting Youth As They Become Young Adults Jesse Jaeger UUA Youth Programs Director Michael Tino UUA Director of Young Adult and Campus Ministry

Goals for Participants To understand key points in faith development between ages 14 and 20 To understand key points in faith development between ages 14 and 20 To identify the importance of transitions and transitional rituals To identify the importance of transitions and transitional rituals To look at congregational culture from the perspective of youth and new young adults To look at congregational culture from the perspective of youth and new young adults To learn resources available from the UUA To learn resources available from the UUA

A Map for the Journey

From Childhood to Youth

Junior High Ministry Resources Our Whole Lives: Grades 7-9 and Our Whole Lives: Grades 7-9 and Families: A UU Curriculum for Junior High and Senior High Youth Families: A UU Curriculum for Junior High and Senior High Youth Coming of Age Resource Coming of Age Resource More Ideas More Ideas

Youth Programs

Congregations and Youth What does your congregation offer youth? What does your congregation offer youth? What programs are specifically designed for youth? What programs are specifically designed for youth? What intergenerational programs are youth invited to be a part of? What intergenerational programs are youth invited to be a part of?

Integrating Youth How do we integrate youth into our congregations? How do we integrate youth into our congregations? Why is this vital for the future of our movement? Why is this vital for the future of our movement? What are examples of programs that do this? What are examples of programs that do this?

Youth Ministry Resources Leadership Development Conferences Leadership Development Conferences Spirituality Development Conferences Spirituality Development Conferences Youth Advisor Training Youth Advisor Training Youth Chaplain Training Youth Chaplain Training

Crossing the Bridge

Preparing for Adulthood Join us in an exercise from The Bridging Program… What does it mean to become an adult? What does it mean to become an adult? How do you know when you’re an adult? How do you know when you’re an adult?

Bridging Ceremonies Ceremonies to recognize the transition from youth to young adulthood Ceremonies to recognize the transition from youth to young adulthood Different from graduation ceremonies Different from graduation ceremonies Let new young adults know that they still have a spiritual home Let new young adults know that they still have a spiritual home

Bridging Resources Backpacker’s Notebook Backpacker’s Notebook Year-long curriculum for youth working with an adult mentor Year-long curriculum for youth working with an adult mentor The Bridging Program The Bridging Program Four-session curriculum for before the bridging ceremony Four-session curriculum for before the bridging ceremony Crossing The Bridge from Youth to Young Adulthood Crossing The Bridge from Youth to Young Adulthood Resource guide to bridging ceremonies Resource guide to bridging ceremonies

Bridge or Cliff? Which do you have, a bridge or a cliff? Which do you have, a bridge or a cliff? Bridges are pathways between communities, and require youth to be welcomed into the adult world Bridges are pathways between communities, and require youth to be welcomed into the adult world Cliffs are abrupt endings, with no future in sight Cliffs are abrupt endings, with no future in sight

After the Bridge

What Comes Next? What do we do after the bridging ceremony? What do we do after the bridging ceremony? How do we keep our newest young adults connected to Unitarian Universalism? How do we keep our newest young adults connected to Unitarian Universalism?

Bridge Connections For graduating high school seniors and 18 year-olds For graduating high school seniors and 18 year-olds Costs $5 (CDN or US) to congregations for a packet with a US$55 value Costs $5 (CDN or US) to congregations for a packet with a US$55 value Each senior gets a gift packet, including a book and subscriptions to UUWorld, Quest, and CUC publications Each senior gets a gift packet, including a book and subscriptions to UUWorld, Quest, and CUC publications

Young Adult and Campus Ministry Campus ministry is an outreach ministry on campus Campus ministry is an outreach ministry on campus It recognizes the unique challenges of life in a campus environment It recognizes the unique challenges of life in a campus environment Young adult ministry is a growth ministry within our congregations Young adult ministry is a growth ministry within our congregations Its goal is integration of young adults into the congregation Its goal is integration of young adults into the congregation

A Lifetime Commitment How do we invite young adults to be active members and leaders in our congregations? How do we invite young adults to be active members and leaders in our congregations? Are we committed to involving young adults in the overall life of our congregation? Are we committed to involving young adults in the overall life of our congregation?

Young Adult &Campus Ministry Resources Curricula and Printed Resources Curricula and Printed Resources On-Line Resources On-Line Resources CM Manual CM Manual Small Group Ministry Resources Small Group Ministry Resources Code of Ethics Code of Ethics Outreach Materials Outreach Materials Posters, videos, brochures Posters, videos, brochures Trainings and consultations Trainings and consultations

ConnectUU Database UUA Youth and Young Adult database of 20,000+ people UUA Youth and Young Adult database of 20,000+ people For groups, individuals & events For groups, individuals & events Access to resources for youth and young adults Access to resources for youth and young adults Access to information about youth, campus and YA groups Access to information about youth, campus and YA groups Facilitates transition to young adulthood with automatic services Facilitates transition to young adulthood with automatic services

For more information UUA Youth Programs Office UUA Youth Programs Office for general information for general information UUA Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry UUA Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry for general information for general information