Pocatello Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is offering the OWL curriculum for youth grades 7–9 (~ages 12–15) with classes to run weekly on Sunday evenings, closely following the local 2026–2027 academic calendar. Enrolled students will begin on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 7:00pm. This first session may run closer to two hours, while the usual time will be about an hour and a half.

Parents and guardians of enrolled youth must attend a mandatory orientation prior to their youth beginning the OWL program. The parents and guardians meeting/workshop will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 7:00pm, and will run at least 90 minutes.

Enrollment is limited to the first 15 participants on a first come, first serve basis.

Time commitment

With the importance of this specific time, the curriculum established is significantly longer than all others, containing 25 seperate workshops. Participants are expected to make a full commitment to the program and attend all of the approximately 25 sessions to receive a holistic view of the world and their developing part in it. At the same time, perfect attendance can be unrealistic, but each participant’s consistent attendance improves both the educational and overall experience of not only themselves, but that of the entire group. The first session is particularly important to make all reasonable efforts to attend. If a participant is going to miss a session, please let the facilitators know ahead of time.

Each session is guided by facilitators trained to direct and inform participants in both an empathetic and knowledgeable approach. Facilitators may be leading these sessions, allowing participants a new space with peers and open communication to express themselves in new ways, but are still only supplemental to the education parents and guardians offer on these topics.

Parents and guardians must attend orientation as a prerequisite to their youth’s participation in the program. Doing so informs the parents and guardians of the program and its various subjects, allowing for informed consent and better communication with participants following sessions, but also allows them to be introduced to the facilitators and ask any questions they may have.

Pocatello Unitarian Universalist Fellowship offers the OWL program in secular form, though the larger published curriculum does include an optional faith-based supplement.

Not an abstinence only education, not a preventative education, not a binary education

Many currently available sexuality curricula fall into two catagories: abstinence only, or not abstinence only. In either case, the vast majority are pinpoint focused on preventing or reducing problems such as unintentional teen pregnancy and rates of STIs. Broader still, most give little (if any) care or attention to those who are more diverse, particularly with sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical and mental disabilities, and other aspects that make humans diverse and beautiful.

OWL recognizes and encourages abstinence of partnered sexual activity of young teens to prevent unintentional physical, mental, or emotional outcomes, providing education on why postponement is appropriate, and other ways to be able to express themselves and connect in a safer manner in the meantime. Beyond sexual activity, sexuality is a part of life, and should be celebrated as a beautiful part of how we become healthy people who feel good about ourselves and our bodies, remain healthy, and build positive, equitable, and loving relationships. Finally, OWL education works to separate diverse, different, and unique characteristics of participants and cultures from any stigma of “abnormality”. Complete education is provided for all participants, including education about other genders, sexual orientations, genitalia, disabilities, and other characteristics and experiences they may not share. This diverse approach to sexuality education encourages empathy, equity, compassion, understanding, thoughtfulness, and many other attributes throughout each participant’s life and all those with whom they may interact.