What is OWL?

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a sexuality education curriculum that can be offered to five age groups: K-grade 1, grade 4-6, grade 7-9 (JR High), grade 10-12 (SR High) and Adult.

The OWL curriculum was developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ in the U.S.A. Many Canadian Unitarian congregations now have teachers trained and are offering classes in most of the 5 levels across the lifespan.

The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa has offed the year-long sexuality education at the grade 8 level for over 20 years. "About Your Sexuality" (AYS) was the precursor to the OWL program. We have offered OWL at the grade 5 level for 8 years and expanded the OWL program to Kindergarten and Senior High school in 2004.

We have always welcomed young people from outside our congregation that have been interested in participating in these classes.

Unitarian Principles and Values
The OWL program taught by the First Unitarian Congregation incorporates Unitarian principles and values, both in the materials and how everyone interacts during the weekends. Unitarians affirm and promote:

..........The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
..........Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
..........Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
..........A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
..........The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
..........The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
..........Respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.

UNDERSTANDING OUR WHOLE LIVES

CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY