Our Whole Lives - OWL - at Bethel
Owl is Back & Better than Ever!
Avery Deane Swift, Lead OWL Facilitator
Dear neighbors,
I'm delighted to share that we (a small group of dedicated youth supporters) have responded to the requests from local families to offer a spring session of the OWL program for 4-6th graders. We held the first local program for this age group in the fall of 2022, and had more interested youth than we could fit into one class! It was a very successful program, and we're ready to offer it again. Big resounding THANK YOUs to Andy Wade, Regula Miller-Baum, Scotty Davidson, and Debi Budnick for showing up to help make it possible!
I am honored to once again be coordinating and facilitating the program, with facilitation support from Debi and Scotty. This curriculum has 11 total sessions including a joint parent/student orientation, and will be delivered 2x each week (Wed & Thu) in order to wrap up before the end of the school year.
Orientation will be held from 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday April 27 at Bethel.
This is mandatory for at least one parent/guardian as well as the child in class.
Classes will be held Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:30pm starting Wednesday May 3rd and completing on Thursday June 1.
We are asking for contributions on a sliding scale for each student from $550-$250. We ask that you offer generously within your means based on your family's access to financial resources, so that we can keep class sizes small, offer our facilitators a supportive wage, and also make space for scholarships for youth whose families could not otherwise afford to enroll their students.
This class will be limited to 11 students to ensure maximum learning and participation.
To enroll your young person(s) in these classes, please fill out this google form to request registration, and let us know if you've had family members in OWL before.
All contributions for classes can be made payable to Bethel Congregational, and either mailed or brought to the Orientation.
Additional contributions beyond the scale are tax-deductable, as are donations made to the OWL program by community members who don't currently have a student enrolled. If you would like to support future cohorts with a tax-deductable donation, you can do so here.
Let us know what questions arise. If you feel so moved, please share this information with local families who may be interested. Enrollment will close on April 25 or when we reach capacity (whichever comes first).
Big Love,
Avery Deane
Avery Deane Swift
pronouns: they/them
Coach, Facilitator, Speaker
Holder of Healing Spaces
Certified OWL Facilitator (Our Whole Lives Lifespan Sexuality Education)
avery@gorgebodywise.com / gorgebodywise.com / embodyyoursenses.com
May we choose Love as our thread as we weave the fabric of our lives.
Dear neighbors,
I'm delighted to share that we (a small group of dedicated youth supporters) have responded to the requests from local families to offer a spring session of the OWL program for 4-6th graders. We held the first local program for this age group in the fall of 2022, and had more interested youth than we could fit into one class! It was a very successful program, and we're ready to offer it again. Big resounding THANK YOUs to Andy Wade, Regula Miller-Baum, Scotty Davidson, and Debi Budnick for showing up to help make it possible!
I am honored to once again be coordinating and facilitating the program, with facilitation support from Debi and Scotty. This curriculum has 11 total sessions including a joint parent/student orientation, and will be delivered 2x each week (Wed & Thu) in order to wrap up before the end of the school year.
Orientation will be held from 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday April 27 at Bethel.
This is mandatory for at least one parent/guardian as well as the child in class.
Classes will be held Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-6:30pm starting Wednesday May 3rd and completing on Thursday June 1.
We are asking for contributions on a sliding scale for each student from $550-$250. We ask that you offer generously within your means based on your family's access to financial resources, so that we can keep class sizes small, offer our facilitators a supportive wage, and also make space for scholarships for youth whose families could not otherwise afford to enroll their students.
This class will be limited to 11 students to ensure maximum learning and participation.
To enroll your young person(s) in these classes, please fill out this google form to request registration, and let us know if you've had family members in OWL before.
All contributions for classes can be made payable to Bethel Congregational, and either mailed or brought to the Orientation.
Additional contributions beyond the scale are tax-deductable, as are donations made to the OWL program by community members who don't currently have a student enrolled. If you would like to support future cohorts with a tax-deductable donation, you can do so here.
Let us know what questions arise. If you feel so moved, please share this information with local families who may be interested. Enrollment will close on April 25 or when we reach capacity (whichever comes first).
Big Love,
Avery Deane
Avery Deane Swift
pronouns: they/them
Coach, Facilitator, Speaker
Holder of Healing Spaces
Certified OWL Facilitator (Our Whole Lives Lifespan Sexuality Education)
avery@gorgebodywise.com / gorgebodywise.com / embodyyoursenses.com
May we choose Love as our thread as we weave the fabric of our lives.
|
I'm not proud of my history when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community. I wasn't a "horrible" person, but I also wasn't as loving and understanding as I could have been. I support OWL because it's an exceptional program for all our kids. And I support OWL because it is one way I can give back in support of neighbors I once would have excluded in various ways. Will you join me in helping to make this important effort available to all? - Pastor Andy Wade
|
Please Support OWL
with your one-time or recurring gift. All donations are tax deductable. |
Bethel is pleased to again offer OWL to our Gorge community. This year we were able to add a 4th-6th grade cohort to our existing 8th grade cohort! This is exciting news because our younger kids are asking questions and deserve research-based, age-appropriate, education about sexuality and personal boundaries.
What I appreciate about this program in its full expression is that it doesn't just dump facts and figures on the kids. This is a well-researched and refined system that allows those facts and figures to soak in, be discussed in a safe and inclusive environment, and then put into practice through a variety of experiential activities. In other words, this is education at its best.
Since this educational experience is being sponsored by a church, Bethel, some of you may be concerned that we are imposing our religious views into this material. We don't. Our purpose is to provide this vital content to as many of our Gorge youth as possible in order to help cultivate a safer, more respectful, and informed community. This is all about healthy respect for our and other bodies, relationships, and interactions. Your family or faith community can supplement this content as you feel best. If you would like help exploring faith and sexuality, I am happy to discuss your desires and recommend material appropriate for you context.
Pastor Andy Wade
What I appreciate about this program in its full expression is that it doesn't just dump facts and figures on the kids. This is a well-researched and refined system that allows those facts and figures to soak in, be discussed in a safe and inclusive environment, and then put into practice through a variety of experiential activities. In other words, this is education at its best.
Since this educational experience is being sponsored by a church, Bethel, some of you may be concerned that we are imposing our religious views into this material. We don't. Our purpose is to provide this vital content to as many of our Gorge youth as possible in order to help cultivate a safer, more respectful, and informed community. This is all about healthy respect for our and other bodies, relationships, and interactions. Your family or faith community can supplement this content as you feel best. If you would like help exploring faith and sexuality, I am happy to discuss your desires and recommend material appropriate for you context.
Pastor Andy Wade