Youth Curriculum, 11-15-26

Youth Announcements:

CSL Winter Teen Camp Registration Is Open! Teens ages 12.5–18, sign up by December 15! Visit cslolympia.org under Youth & Family → Teen Camp to learn more and register.

November Monthly Theme: Expanding Empathy
November Week 3 — Empathic Learning: A Gift of Life
Value: Self-Awareness & Growth
Affirmation: Every encounter deepens my empathy.

Curriculum Overview:

Youth explore how every person they meet has something to teach them. Through storytelling, perspective-taking activities, and reflection, they discover how different experiences and viewpoints can expand their understanding of themselves and the world. They practice approaching unfamiliar perspectives with curiosity instead of judgment and recognize the opportunities for growth that come from learning from others.

Spiritual Lesson:

We recognize one Life expressing through all people, each with unique experiences and perspectives. Youth learn that they don’t have to agree with someone to learn from them. By remaining curious, listening with an open mind, and setting aside assumptions, they create opportunities for greater understanding, self-awareness, and connection.

Meditation Practice: Open to Learning

Youth settle into a comfortable position and focus on their breathing. They imagine quieting the noise of their thoughts and creating space to listen with an open heart. They silently consider, “What might someone be communicating that they haven’t found the words to express?” They visualize responding with patience, openness, and compassion.

Teen Discussion: The Lessons We Learn from Others

Teens explore how interacting with people who have different experiences and viewpoints can challenge assumptions and expand their understanding. They discuss how someone can teach us something even when we disagree, how listening to others can reveal something about ourselves, and how to remain open to learning without feeling pressured to change our own beliefs.

Creative Expression: The Perspective Switch — More Than One Story

Youth explore how two people can experience the same situation differently. Younger youth (ages 4–7) listen to a short story and imagine what each person might be thinking or feeling. Older youth (ages 8–12) create two versions of an everyday scenario, showing how each person might see the situation. Middle school youth (ages 11–13) examine how assumptions, intentions, and missing information influence how we interpret experiences, considering what might change their perspective.

Outdoor Activity: Curiosity Quest — Find Something New!

Youth work in small teams on a short outdoor discovery challenge, searching for things others might overlook, finding different uses for familiar objects, or noticing how something changes depending on where they stand. Teams share what they discovered and how looking more closely or considering another viewpoint helped them see something new.

Connecting: A Lesson I’ll Carry Forward

Youth reflect on someone who has taught them something meaningful through a conversation, shared experience, or different perspective. Each participant completes the statement: “I learned something from someone when…” Their responses will contribute to our collective Empathy in Action sharing moment on the fifth Sunday.