Programs Grounded in UU Values

Unitarian Universalist principles and values are more than words — they offer a pathway to living an ethical, compassionate, and faith-filled life. In our Religious Exploration program, we bring these values to life through hands-on experiences, thoughtful discussions, engaging stories and crafts, service-learning and community service projects, and opportunities for personal reflection. Each group invites children and youth to explore Unitarian Universalist values in meaningful ways, helping them not only understand them but to also weave them into their daily lives.

2026–27 Monthly Themes

• Welcome
• Heritage
• Generosity
• Mystery
• Liberating Love
• Justice & Equity
• Transformation
• Interdependence
• Pluralism
• Renewal

Our Middle School Youth group will continue with the Soul Matters Crossing Paths curriculum, where youth will learn about and explore different faith traditions and spiritual practices of other world religions. Field trips to other houses of faith will be a part of the programming.

Visiting on Sunday

We welcome visiting children and families with open arms. When you arrive on Sunday morning, you can enter through the main Sanctuary door where greeters will welcome you. They will connect you with the Children’s Program Manager to answer any questions you might have about the program. You will be asked to fill out an RE Visitor Form that gives us basic information about you and your child(ren), and you will be introduced to the RE group leaders.

Children are welcome to visit RE up to 3 times before we ask that you formally enroll in the program. We do require that at least 1 parent/guardian be on-site during the Sunday morning programming. Summer child care is available without fee or enrollment on a drop-in basis.

RE Program Enrollment

We ask families with children and teens who will be regularly attending RE Programming to complete an enrollment form. While there is a fee to enroll, we never want that to be a barrier to participation. Please email our Director of Community Engagement, Meagan C. at dce@follen.org to request a waiver.

In church year 2026–27, our age cohorts will be:

• Nursery: babies and children up to Pre-Kindergarten
• Chalice Kids: children in Kindergarten–2nd grade
• Explorers: children in grades 3–5
• Middle School Youth Group: youth in grades 6–8
• FUUY (high school youth group): youth in grades 9–12

Register for Religious Exploration

Special Needs

If your child has any specialized needs, faces challenges, or would benefit from specific supports to fully participate in church life, please reach out to the director of community engagement, Meagan C., at dce@follen.org. We welcome confidential conversations, and are committed to working together to find solutions within our volunteer-led program. Additionally, the Children and Family Support Committee, part of the Pastoral Care Action Team, is a wonderful thought-partner in finding creative solutions and important resources to support the varying needs of our children and families at Follen Church.

Volunteering with RE

Our Religious Exploration program is supported by talented staff and dedicated volunteers that work together to offer high-quality, thoughtfully designed and age-appropriate curriculum and activities. There is so much talent, creativity, knowledge, and overall good-humanness in our congregation, and our young people will become better by connecting and forming healthy relationships with other caring adults.

There are so many ways you can get involved as an RE volunteer – playing with littles in the nursery. Reading a story and having a guided chat with our K-2nd graders to help spark that initial flame in their faith formation journey. You can offer your skills as a baker or lead a hike for a multi-age group.

We need volunteers who can provide support during our new Children’s Chapel on designated Sundays throughout the year, where kids will have worship experiences designed just for them. There are opportunities to mentor youth in our Coming of Age program and FUUY (high school youth group). You don’t need teaching experience — all you need is a willingness to show up with an open heart and a sense of adventure. Our staff team and amazing RE Action Team will be with you every step of the way providing coaching, activity guides, and materials.

Volunteer for RE

Safety in Our Program

The safety of your child(ren) is important to us. To ensure their well-being, Follen Church’s policies require our RE volunteers and staff to be screened with a national background-check, and never alone with a single child. First-aid supplies are readily available in designated spots on each floor of our building, and an AED is located on the bottom floor near the Community Center entrance.

In case of an emergency requiring us to evacuate the building during RE, volunteers and staff are trained to escort the children out the most accessible door to gather on the green behind the historic Stone Building located in the Waldorf access loop. Emergency evacuations and routes are posted in each classroom.