OWL (Our Whole Lives) is a series of comprehensive sex education curricula first co-published by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ in 2000.

Inherent worth and dignity of every person

At the heart of each of the seven age-specific course offerings are the lifelong principles of:

•  self-acceptance and self-worth
•  autonomy and communication within any type of relationship
• discovery of personal identity
• acceptance of others

Relevant and practical

Each course is made to address in an honest, clear, and compassionate way the choices and struggles that age group may be facing or will soon face. Providing developmentally appropriate information to participants helps dismantle stereotypes and eliminate assumptions, assisting participants to make responsible and informed decisions within all aspects of life. 

Holistic, inclusive, comprehensive

The OWL program recognizes that no one aspect of life is separate from any of the others, and that people of various experiences, bodies, and identities exist together in our world and communities. Complete inclusivity and education takes a lifetime, but the grades 7–9 curriculum is particularly involved as participants’ minds, bodies, and experiences are nearing or within the transition from child to adult.

Time commitment

With the importance of this specific time, the curriculum established is significantly longer than all others, and participants are expected to attend all of the approximately 25 sessions to receive a holistic view of the world and their developing part in it. These sessions are guided by  facilitators trained to guide and inform participants in both an empathetic and knowledgeable approach. 

While facilitators may be leading these sessions, allowing participants a new space with peers and open communication to express themselves in new ways, facilitators understand they are supplemental to the education parents and guardians offer on this topic. Parents and guardians must attend orientation as a prerequisite to their youth’s participation in the program.

Pocatello Unitarian Universalist Fellowship offers the OWL program in secular form, with optional components to address how people of different faiths and belief systems may integrate their secular learnings with their spiritual selves. 

OWL Curriculum for Youth Grades 7 – 9

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. Start date to be determined, tentatively late September.

Parents of enrolled youth must attend a mandatory orientation prior to their youth beginning the OWL program.

Holistic Sexuality Health, not an abstinence only program

The OWL curriculum encourages abstinence for teens while providing comprehensive education to support teens in the following ways:

Grounded in the values of self worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice and inclusivity, the five units covered include:
Unit 1 – Introduction (definitions, values, language)

• Unit 1 Introduction (defining sexuality, examining values)
• Unit 2 You, as a Sexual Being (anatomy & physiology; puberty; body image; gender identity, expression, roles & stereotypes, sexual orientation, guest panel, sexuality and disability)
• Unit 3 Relationships (healthy relationships; relationship skills)
• Unit 4 Contemporary Issues (sexuality, social media and the internet; bullying & bystander responsibilities)
• Unit 5 Responsible Sexual Behavior (redefining abstinence; lovemaking; consent education)
• Unit 6 STIs, Pregnancy & Parenting Decisions
• Unit 7 Communicating about Sexuality (decision making, communicating with a sexual partner, self care & celebration)