Program Overview
Programming runs Monday through Friday. Check-in for morning programming is from 8:45 until 9:00. All youth, regardless of age, must be checked in to their classroom in the morning by their parent or SUUSI guardian. This is an important time for you and the age group leader to update information and make sure that your child has everything that she or he will need for the day: swimsuit, sunscreen, t-shirt for tie-dye, boots for caving, tied immersible shoes for tubing, tennis shoes for a walking trip, etc.
Nursery Parents - Be sure that your child's diaper bag contains everything that your child will need throughout the day: wipes, diapers, food, and any favorite toys for naps. Nursery participants will engage in age appropriate play groups in our unique one to one caregiver situation. Since we hire one staffer for each baby, please let us know if your child will NOT be in the SUUSI nursery. Children who are too young to go to lunch with their parent or SUUSI guardian may choose to stay in the nursery for lunch.
3-4 year olds' parents - We'll have "Tell us about your child" papers so that you can let us know important information about naps, snacks, and potty training. If your child is still potty training, please have a change of clothing and/or diapers with your child daily. Three and four year olds engage in age appropriate play centers in the mornings and afternoons, including arts and crafts and music. Be sure to check your child's daily schedule to find out when she or he will need a swimsuit and sunscreen for water play or good walking shoes for mini-field trips.
5-6 year olds' parents - Your child will be participating age appropriate play centers in the mornings and afternoons, including arts and crafts and music. Our five and six year olds also attend Children's Chapel in the afternoons with our older youths. Be sure to check your child's daily schedule to find out when she or he will need a swimsuit and sunscreen for water play or good walking shoes for mini-field trips.
7-9 year olds' parents - Our seven to nine year olds participate with their age groups in arts and crafts, music, outdoor games, indoor play, and mini-adventure activities. Afternoons begin with Children's Chapel followed by workshops Monday through Thursday. Be sure to have your child choose his/her afternoon workshops when you register in the spring.
10-12 year olds' parents - Our ten to 12 year olds are learning to become more and more independent, using their Unitarian Universalist principles to make decisions about their daily lives. These children participate with their age groups in arts and crafts, music, outdoor games, indoor play, and mini-adventure activities. Afternoons begin with Children's Chapel followed by workshops Monday through Thursday. Be sure to have your child choose his/her afternoon workshops when you register in the spring.
13 year olds' parents -Our 13-year-olds are part of a special Coming of Age program, which includes 13's After Dark programming from 9:00 to 11:00, after which staff will escort them to their dorm. Our thirteens plan their own worship service, focusing on developing their own philosophy of what it means to be a young religious person in today's society. Our thirteens still participate in arts and crafts, music, and games (lots and lots of games), but they are moving even further away from childhood and soaring into their teen lives!
Morning programming runs until 12:00. Children ages 9 and up, who have signed permission forms, may check themselves out for lunch. Permission forms will be part of your youth’s registration confirmation packet or you may download them from the web. All other children (ages 0-8) must be picked up by their parent or SUUSI guardian. Children who are too young to go to lunch with their parent or SUUSI guardian may choose to stay in the nursery for lunch.
Afternoon programming ends at 4:00. The same check-out procedures as morning programming apply.
NEW for 2008
Youth Staff Childcare for Parents on Nature Trips
In response to your evaluation feedback, we are now offering childcare for parents taking nature trips. Youth staff will be available one hour before morning programming (8:00-9:00 AM) and thirty minutes after morning programming (12:00-12:30 PM). For dietary reasons, Youth staffers are not authorized to take children to lunch or dinner. Youth staff will also be available one hour before afternoon programming (1:00-2:00 PM) and thirty minutes after afternoon programming (4:00-4:30). Afternoon childcare will not be available on Friday. There is no charge for this additional childcare; however, we do need to know how many children will be staying for childcare time so that we can ensure a safe child-staff ratio. Please sign up for youth childcare services during registration if you are taking a nature trip and need babysitting.
Evenings at SUUSI are usually community oriented, and we look forward to seeing youth and parents in the sandbox or out in the quad.
If you would like to suggest a youth workshop topic, or you are a teen or adult who would like to lead a workshop, please contact me at youth@suusi.org or 1-804-798-2416 Dianna MacPherson - Youth Director