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CUUPS Kids 'N Kin:
where Pagan
kids go
when they can't get into Hogwarts!
Magickal
folks of all kinds meet EVERY Sunday at 1 pm for
two hours of
ritual, singing, dancing, arts and crafts, stories, and a snack. Along the way, we learn about Paganism and how to follow the Rainbow
Path.
This
expansion of our program was made at the request of participating families, we
have expanded our program to meet EVERY SUNDAY except in August since Sept. 14,
2003 Weekly programs have been a tremendous success, as the children
are developing friendships, ritual skills, and exploring the world together.
Parents have found comrades in the struggle, and built friendships of their
own through this program.
The Kids program
has proven sustainable on a donation basis, so that
no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Our costs are
typically $2-3 per child per session.
Our meeting place is normally
downstairs at First Unitarian Society (right next to the elevator).
Street parking is normally plentiful after noon.
The Kids'N Kin news is at CUUPS TC Kids n
Kin Page You can learn more about what Kids is all about by checking
out our home
page. |
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Services
provided by
CUUPS Kids
for more information, see CUUPS
Kids Homepage
Pagan "Sunday
School" -- Kids
Child-appropriate
Seasonal Rituals
Some of the 8
Great Festivals are better suited for the interests, abilities, and
attention spans of children than others. Our adult Samhain, with its
intensity and solemnity and long meditation, is generally suited only for
teens or very mature middle school youth. But every festival can be
adapted to focus on children's needs, abilities, and interests, and so we
are offering a Sunday afternoon ritual for all our young folk.
Opportunities to serve as an Acolyte in ritual
are
open for
youths and maidens interested
in participating in the ritual team which produces our evening festivals. Adolescents have had roles in the last several rituals. Readiness for such a
role is not just a
matter of age, and roles can be created to meet the
abilities of the youth. Speaking and non-speaking roles are available.
We are especially interested in youth
who would like to learn simple folk
dances for rituals. Acolytes
should
attend rehearsal, but need not attend other ritual team meetings,
unless they'd like to. To talk about being an acolyte, please call Christa at 763-493-3634.
Maidens and
Mothers:
We have a
plan in place to hold a weekend or a 4 session group for
Girls over 10 and their Mothers (or Woman Sponsor with parental
permission). Together, we'll share issues around becoming a woman,
memories and hopes, Pagan traditions about initiation into womanhood, and
encountering the Feminine dimension of the Holy. Most of all, we'll
celebrate our Girls as they are becoming women!
This program will be taught by Rev. Christa Landon, who will draw on her
training for leading the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven Curriculum as well
as her graduate coursework in comparative religions, Jungian psychology,
and spiritual direction.
If this may interest you,
please add your name to the list. When we have 5 pairs of girls and women,
those who are on this list can suggest best dates and location (at homes
or First Unitarian Society). (Should men be interested in an
initiatory program for their sons, such a program could be arranged, given
more time to plan a program and find a suitable facilitator. If you are
interested, contact Rev. Landon.
AD-FREE List Serve for Local Pagan
Families
Want to chat with other Pagan families in the Twin Cities area WITHOUT
Yahoo's annoying ads, spyware, and cookies? It's easy to
join the cuups kids'n kin list.
Just send an email to ">WebMaster Tom to the cuups kids'n kin list.
Child Care During
"Adult" Rituals
It's
important than only those who WANT to attend rituals do so, and yet,
finding and paying for babysitting can be prohibitive for many
families. The committee arranges on-site child care in
child-friendly rooms on the same floor. Parents contribute $3/child or
more as they can afford it; the shortage is made up from CUUPS' general
fund. This service is only
possible with R.S.V.P.s 5 days in advance.
Pagan Teen Group:
Are you a
high school student? Want to meet other Pagan Teens in a safe context?
Did
you know that CUUPS Twin Cities is gathering a circle just for
you? Check out the
Pagan
Youth 13-20 page. Contact the Webmaster and ask to subscribe to the new Young Pagans
listserv.
And
don't forget to check out the Chapter
News
section of
this ezine for more ways to get involved.
Intergenerational
Camping Weekends
CUUPS
Camp began last Lammas is open to members and friends of
CUUPS-TwinCities and their families. If YOU would like to
participate in any of the three 2004 camps , please ">register
your interest; early registrants have input in selecting dates, sites,
food, and activities.
You DON'T have to have your own equipment, and camperships are available.
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Kids programs are extra safe because parents are working together in
our programs, but there ARE some people on the Internet who want to
exploit kids and teens. Please discuss these with your family.
Kids' Rules for Online Safety
(from
www.safekids.com)
Rules one through six are adapted from the brochure Child Safety
on the Information Highway by Lawrence J. Magid. Printed copies are
available free by calling 800-843-5678.
1. I will not give out personal information such as my address,
telephone number, parents' work address/telephone number, or the name
and location of my school without my parents' permission
2. I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information
that makes me feel uncomfortable.
3. I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet"
online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to
the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my
mother or father along.
4. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first
checking with my parents.
5. I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make
me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that.
If I do, I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the
service provider.
6. I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going
online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the
length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I
will not access other areas or break these rules without their
permission
7. I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best
friends) other than my parents
8. I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other
people or is against the law. |
Meet the Folks
Who Are
Making the Magick Happen!
Christa:
Back
in the late '70's/early 80's, I was doing program planning for some of the
first regional Pagan festivals. I made a point of talking to the
kids to see what more we could do for them. They kept bursting into
tears, saying they LIVED for these festivals, because it was the only time
when they could meet with other Pagan kids their own age. That
haunted me. I came to realize that until Pagan parents could collaborate
to create on-going communities of dozens of families, our kids were going
to suffer terribly from isolation.
When Tom and I learned we couldn't have children of our own, we dedicated
ourselves to helping the Pagan movement evolve to be a better place for
Pagan children, by taking some risks which Pagans with kids in the early
80's generally could not. This lead me to getting a masters degree in
comparative religions and a doctorate in ministry. Part of my
coursework included curriculum review and design. I worked with 5 UU
congregations' children's programs in varying capacities, and wrote and
tested an intergenerational curriculum. I began the CUUPS Kids experiment in 2002.
Now that J. and M. are doing such a fine job with Kids, I'm turning my attentions to creating a youth program for teens.
We'll be starting that in January, 2005.
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What's your favorite Magickal Book?
Tell us about it and you can be published in Pagan Institute Report!
You'll find other book reviews at kids_bibliography.
And don't miss our crafts_and_fun page!
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You won't need a broom...
Kids events are wheelchair
(and stroller) accessible.
">
Please ask us about your special needs!
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Learn
more about us on the Kids homepage
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">Learn
about current Kids events |
Last updated January 3, 2005
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