OWL (Our Whole Lives) is a series of comprehensive sexuality education curricula co-published by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ first in 2000. Now in its second edition, each curriculum is designed in a manner to provide secular value-centric learning free of specific religious doctrine or reference.

Inherent worth and dignity of every person

At the heart of each of the seven age-specific course offerings are many values, broadly catagorized in four broad topic areas:

• Self-Worth
• Sexual Health
• Responsibility
• Justice and Inclusivity

These values are more concretely demonstrated by the core assumptions OWL is built on, including: sexuality includes far more than sexual behavior, that sexuality is a good part of being human, that people are affected by sexuality throughout their life, that people’s experiences and feelings are diverse in expression and motivation, that sexuality has been damaged in our society, and that it is healthier for teens to postpone partnered sexual activity to avoid negative physical or emotional health outcomes.

Relevant and practical

These courses begin with offerings for as young as kindergarten, and continue throughout all stages of adulthood, truly embodying the Our Whole Lives title. 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, and comprehensive

The OWL program recognizes that no one aspect of life is separate from any other, 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.

Official and extensive information can be found on the UUA website at https://www.uua.org/lifespan/owl.