Our Whole Lives - OWL - at Bethel
Owl is Back & Better than Ever!
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
Avery Deane Swift, Lead OWL Facilitator
Dear neighbors,
Thank you so much for your interest in the Our Whole Lives (OWL)! I am excited and honored to once again be offering these life-changing programs to our community youth. The OWL program is based on 4 core values that are near and dear to my heart: Self Worth, Responsibility, Sexual Health, and Justice/Inclusivity.
WHAT: We currently offer two OWL age groups at Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon, a grade school cohort (grades 4-6) and a middle school cohort (grades 7-9, 8th grade is ideal for most students). Our fall cohorts are already underway. The older class extends into late spring. The younger class ends in December. We are currently assessing the level of interest in adding a grade 4-6 cohort in early 2023. Please contact me if you have interist in having your child join the 2023 cohort.
Here is more information about the classes.
The 4th-6th grade class is held from 4-5:30 PM on Wednesdays at Bethel UCC in White Salmon.
The 7th-9th-grade class is held on Wednesday evenings, from 6:45-8:30 pm at Bethel UCC in White Salmon.
Let us know what questions arise!
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.
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
Avery Deane Swift, Lead OWL Facilitator
Dear neighbors,
Thank you so much for your interest in the Our Whole Lives (OWL)! I am excited and honored to once again be offering these life-changing programs to our community youth. The OWL program is based on 4 core values that are near and dear to my heart: Self Worth, Responsibility, Sexual Health, and Justice/Inclusivity.
WHAT: We currently offer two OWL age groups at Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon, a grade school cohort (grades 4-6) and a middle school cohort (grades 7-9, 8th grade is ideal for most students). Our fall cohorts are already underway. The older class extends into late spring. The younger class ends in December. We are currently assessing the level of interest in adding a grade 4-6 cohort in early 2023. Please contact me if you have interist in having your child join the 2023 cohort.
Here is more information about the classes.
The 4th-6th grade class is held from 4-5:30 PM on Wednesdays at Bethel UCC in White Salmon.
- This curriculum includes 10 sessions plus a parent orientation.
- We are asking for contributions on a sliding scale for each student from $400-$200 (paying in installments is available, reach out to me to work out the details).
- Please offer what you are able to based on your family's access to financial resources, so that we can pay our facilitators a living 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 15 students.
The 7th-9th-grade class is held on Wednesday evenings, from 6:45-8:30 pm at Bethel UCC in White Salmon.
- This is the fully-accredited curriculum including 24 lessons plus a parent orientation and will be delivered from mid-September 2022 through April 2023, with a break over the end-of-year holidays.
- We are asking for contributions on a sliding scale for each student from $750-$400 (paying in installments is available, reach out to me to work out the details).
- Please offer what you are able to based on your family's access to financial resources, so that we can pay our facilitators a living 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 15 students.
Let us know what questions arise!
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.
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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
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Please Support OWL
with your one-time or recurring gift. All donations are tax deductable. |