KidSpace is our Children's Religious Education program, serving everyone ages 0-17. While many of our Sunday rituals and events are intergenerational to one degree or another, most weeks we provide separate and age-appropriate education on a variety of topics in our downstairs classrooms.
KidSpace is broken into several groups based on age and maturity:
In all cases, a child may be asked to join a different class (on a permanent or temporary basis) based on their abilities, regardless of biological age.
In all situations where children are not with their parents, the classes will have a pre-approved volunteer leader who has submitted to a background check, understands the curriculum and expectations of their class' age group, as well as the stipulations of our community's values and our lease, and is compensated with a stipend for their time and trouble. We would like to see a variety of teachers from both inside and outside the community assist with this process, so if you know anyone who has the time and inclination to help out on Sunday afternoons, please let Linda (the KidSpace Coordinator) or Kelley (the KidSpace Committee chairperson) know.
Before they may graduate to the next class, they must demonstrate:
This is our second-youngest KidSpace class, generally aged 4-8. It sometimes combines classrooms with the Saplings class, if there are not enough students to justify splitting them out. During class, this group learns (among other things):
Before they may graduate to the next class, they must demonstrate:
This is our second-oldest KidSpace class, generally aged 8-12. It sometimes combines classrooms with the Shoots class if there are not enough students. During class, these students learn (among other things):
Before they may graduate to the next class, they must demonstrate:
This is our oldest KidSpace class, generally aged 13 and up. These students are brought upstairs to participate in the main ritual when age-appropriate, but during their normal classes they learn (among many other things):
Before they may graduate from the KidSpace Universe, they must demonstrate:
This is the where you will usually find the schedule for near-future in our Children's Religious Education Program, KidSpace. As always, schedules are subject to change.
One of the many ways to volunteer at Gaia Community is to help teach Sunday classes in KidSpace, our Children's Religious Education program. Opportunities abound to help out; curricula are provided for most topics on the schedule, and a stipend of $40 ($20 for the nursery) is available for qualified and pre-approved teachers.
Requirements include:
Interested individuals should get in touch with Kelley or Linda on Sundays, or attend the KidSpace Committee meetings on the third Sunday of the month, at 1:00pm, at SMUUCh.
Most weeks after ritual, someone provides tasty baked goods (cookies, brownies, shortbread, etc) for sale/donation. 100% of the proceeds from these benefit our KidSpace program; they go into a separate bank account used to track and cover KidSpace expenses.
Interested? Have a new recipe you're looking to try out? We'd love to have your help! We currently have volunteers assigned through February 22nd, but still need the following dates filled: March 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th, and April 5th.
Store-bought goods are also acceptable; we like to have at least two options, and if possible something should be available to those with nut, fruit, or cocoa allergies, or are trying to lower their consumption of refined sugars.
My child, _______________________, has my permission to travel by private car to Broadway Baptist to view the Faces of Jesus exhibit there of religious artwork. After seeing the exhibit, the children will be transported back to SMUUCH by private vehicle again.
_________________________ (parent/legal guardian of above written child)
_________________ (date)
________________ (emergency contact number)
This form must be given to Linda or another person on duty as KidSpace teacher - not just any random G.C. member will do!