Our Vision
Through our RiverKids/Youth programming, we strive to:
Our classrooms are supportive environments where kids/youth are:
- Support our children and teens in developing a positive spiritual foundation (that they don't need to heal from!)
- Empower our caregivers to raise up connected young people — to God, to self, to others, and to the world around us
Our classrooms are supportive environments where kids/youth are:
- Invited to bring their whole selves — including their big feelings, tough questions, and distinct personalities!
- Reminded that they are beloved and that they belong — with God and with our loving community
- Encouraged to explore, to wonder, to play, and to encounter God together
- Supported in pursuing "life in all its fullness" for themselves and for others
- Honored and nurtured in their unique journeys of discovering themselves, discerning their beliefs, and exploring spiritual practice
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What to Expect on Sunday Morning
Our program is organized into different age groups. Each group is led by volunteers that are overseen by church staff members. (We run background checks for all staff/volunteers who work with kids and youth.) You can drop off your kids any time after 10:15AM.
First-time families will be asked to register their kids/youth, by filling out a registration form, before dropping them off in their age-appropriate groups.
First-time families will be asked to register their kids/youth, by filling out a registration form, before dropping them off in their age-appropriate groups.
- Nursery
Ages 0-3. 10:15am.
Volunteers provide childcare and facilitate unstructured playtime. - Preschool Class
Ages 3-5. 10:15am.
The Preschool Class starts with unstructured playtime to help the kids settle in and engage right away. The kids then participate in songs and movement, interactive story time, and activities such as drawing, painting, playing games, reading, and acting out stories.
- Elementary School Class
Grades K-5. 10:15am.
The Elementary School Class begins with unstructured free play, songs, and movement. Then, there is time for a Bible story, facilitated discussion, and a fun activity — art, games, or drama. This setting provides familiarity and connections for the kids with their peers and with caring grown-ups.
- Youth Group
Grades 6-12. 10:15am.
We love youth! We focus on building a safe and fun community while engaging them in questions of life and faith. Above all, we want to create space and opportunity for them to experience God directly in the midst of their changing worlds. Youth start in the main service for Worship and then move to the Lounge Area for group time. Our group time is designed to engage the kids spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally during this transitional stage of their development.
Key Elements of RiverKids and RiverYouth
- Interactive Story Time: We see stories as a special meeting place for kids to enter in and interact with God. Our storytellers often use beautiful visual aids to set the stage. Children love the story time and openly share with others as they wonder about God and explore their own feelings and thoughts rather than arriving at predetermined conclusions.
- Questions: We ask open-ended questions and welcome and encourage questions from children. We value the process that kids go through to wrestle with important matters of faith, so we don't rush to provide pat answers. Rather, we hope to equip them with skills to continue the process of inquiry as they move forward on their spiritual journeys.
- Spiritual Exercises: We regularly open time for kids to experience God for themselves through various spiritual exercises like mindfulness, imagination, and reflective quiet time. Through the use of our bodies, voices, and imaginations, we give God the chance to interact with and step closer to us.
- Fun: We believe fun is the love language of children! When kids have fun they are affirmed in who they are. It is also when they are having fun that the deepest discovery and learning happens, sometimes even without our knowing.
Questions?
For questions about Nursery, Preschool, and Elementary, please contact [email protected].
For questions about RiverYouth, please contact [email protected].
For questions about Nursery, Preschool, and Elementary, please contact [email protected].
For questions about RiverYouth, please contact [email protected].