Youth Curriculum, 4-20-25

Announcements: 

CSL Summer Teen Camp dates are officially posted. Teens 13-18 can begin registration process now until June 1st. Go to our website under youth & family teen program for teen camp, registration, and scholarship information. Check in with Adrienne to arrange a family one-on-one Teen Camp info session with teen advisor Ocean Laura and connect with other teens going to camp.

Happy Easter! Youth & Family Ministry is excited to host our annual Easter Egg Hunt after service, beginning at 12:30 PM. We invite everyone to help us celebrate by cheering on our youth as they search for their special eggs, bringing your favorite snack to share, and joining in some joyful outdoor play. It’s a beautiful opportunity to connect, celebrate, and share in the joy of the season—come be part of the fun!

Would you like to contribute your time, talents, or resources to help co-create and support the new CSL garden being started by our youth? Reach out to our Youth Director Adrienne Cherry and let her know how you’d like to be part of this growing vision!

Curriculum Overview:

Through habit stacking, youth practice building new habits on top of things they already do, and learn they can create real, lasting change. Just like a seed grows gradually in rich soil, we thrive when we nurture our body, mind, and spirit through small, consistent actions. From honoring the Earth to celebrating our personal resurrection stories, this week invites us to dig deep and grow strong.

April Monthly Theme: Fertilizing Our Future
Week 3 Value:  Holistic Growth, No Quick Fixes  
Affirmation: “I cultivate holistic growth, welcoming interconnected solutions that nourish my well-being.”

Spiritual Lesson:

This week, we explore how lasting transformation doesn’t happen in a flash—it grows, one mindful step at a time. Inspired by Earth Day and the message of Easter, we’re embracing a deeper, more sustainable way to grow—inside and out.

Mindfulness: “Tiny Habit, Big Change” Practice

Youth identify one daily habit they already have (like brushing their teeth or pouring a drink) and stack a new one on top (like saying something they’re grateful for, taking a deep breath, or setting an intention). They write or draw their new habit pair and say it out loud as an affirmation.

Active Listening: Book/Music/Video

• Book: “The Curious Garden” by Peter Brown
• Music: “Grow As We Go” by Ben Platt (clean)
• Book:  “Dream Big, Little One” by Vashti Harrison (younger class)
• Music: “The Garden Song (Inch by Inch)” by David Mallett (younger class)

Creative Expression: “My Habit Stack Flower”

Youth create a flower drawing where each petal shows one habit stack. The center of the flower represents their intention for holistic growth (e.g., joy, calm, strength). This visual helps them understand how small habits blossom into big change.

Lessons in Action: “Earth Day Challenge Circle”

Youth spin a wheel or draw a card with a simple eco-action (e.g., reuse something, turn off lights, pick up litter, thank a tree). After completing the action, they add a paper “leaf” to a shared classroom tree mural with their name and one word describing how it felt.

Connecting: “Growing Together: A Four-Bed Garden for Service”

Youth and adults work together to tend the soil, water the beds, and add small markers with intentions or affirmations written on stones or wooden sticks. As the garden grows, so does our shared vision of care and connection.