Our Whole Lives O.W.L.
We are delighted to offer the Our Whole Lives (OWL), comprehensive sexuality education to people across the lifespan. OWL is a forward-looking and adaptive program on human sexuality developed in collaboration by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.
Our Whole Lives is secular in nature, though created by two liberal religious organisations; we believe that each person is the authority on their own experience, needs, and values. OWL aims to give each person the developmentally appropriate information needed to have safe and fulfilling relationships with their bodies and their loved ones throughout their lives, across all spectrums of orientation and gender identity.
The O.W.L. Philosophy
The O.W.L. Philosophy
Our Whole Lives (OWL) was created in the 1990’s and is continually updated in print and ongoing communication to facilitators. Its purpose is to address the need for age-appropriate, accurate, student-centred, compassionate education on the range of human experience of sexuality and relationships.
Kiersten Moore - she/her/they
Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Olivia Hall - they/them
Children and Youth Program CoordinatorOur Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behaviour. Accurate, age-appropriate information for each level is provided in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behaviour, sexual health, and society and culture.
Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. OWL aims to make its subject matter accessible and inviting to people of all backgrounds and identities, including queer and trans people at every level.
Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.)
Ages 5-7 and 9-11 Respect, Responsibility, & Relationship. Peer learning and parent support in being effective as their child’s most important sexuality educator.
Ages 12-14 and 16-18 Caring, Compassion, Respect, & Justice. Helping adolescents address their attitudes, values, and feelings about themselves, their identity and sexuality and others’.
Learning is ongoing and sexuality is a part of our lives from birth until death. Presenting sexuality as a good, creative force with enormous potential to enrich as well as to generate life.
Our Whole Lives Values:
- Self Worth
- Sexual Health
- Responsibility
- Justice
- Inclusivity
Each level of Our Whole Lives offers:
- Up-to-date information and language
- Honest age-appropriate answers to all participants’ questions
- The basic assumption that all sexual orientations and genders exist within the group and in our community
- Activities to help participants clarify values and improve decision-making skills
- Effective group-building to create a safe and supportive peer group
- Education about sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment
- Opportunities to critique media and social messages about gender and sexuality
- Celebration of diversity
- Encouragement to act for justice
- A well designed, teacher-friendly leaders’ guide
- Parent orientation programs for the children and teen levels that affirm parents as the primary sexuality educators of their children
Become a Facilitator
Become a Facilitator
How to become a trained OWL facilitator and why you might want to
Adults: Are you longing to contribute to the future of the world? Do you want to help adults explore a deeper understanding of consent, communication, and their own sexuality?Do you want to empower youth to think for themselves? Are you interested to hear what kids these days are really thinking (and how little things have changed since you were a kid)?
Then volunteer to become an O.W.L. facilitator! Vancouver Unitarians is currently seeking facilitators for all age levels–but particularly the youngest and oldest: children or adults! There will be a training in connection with the Canadian Unitarian Council Symposium and AGM in May and we want to send you!
Contact Kiersten Moore for more information and get with the program!
What's on in Lifespan
Everybody’s Birthday!
