S.E. FAQs

Children’s Spiritual Exploration (C.S.E.) FAQ Sheet

General Information

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What is Children’s Spiritual Exploration (C.S.E)?

UU St. Pete’s Children’s Spiritual Exploration (C.S.E) is a program for preschool through high school where its mission is to foster spiritual, ethical, and social growth in a nurturing faith community. They are divided by current grades and are taught multireligious/spiritual studies from around the world through song, art, dance, and cooking. (uustpete.org)

What ages/grades are included?

Nursery, Preschool, K-5th grade, middle school and high school (6th grade and up). (uustpete.org)

Class Schedules & Formats

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When are classes offered?

Sunday mornings during the service hours from 10:30-11:30am.  

What is "All Ages Service"?

All Ages Services are held on the 4th Sundays of the month where youth attend a multigenerational service. On this day, C.S.E. classes are closed. The nursery is open.

Is the nursery available for very young children?

Yes. Nursery is available for the littlest children (0-3). Parents are encouraged to bring bottles, diapers, and special instructions. Parents may stay with their child and watch the service via livestream in the nursery if they like. 

What do older children/youth do?

For grades K-5, there are discussions, arts & crafts, stories, sign-along, and exposure to various religious concepts. For 6th grade & up, there is focus on arts and crafts, discussions, meditation, multi-generational services, virtual field trips to places of worship, and volunteer or internship opportunities. 

Safety & Accessibility

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Are there background checks or safety measures for staff/volunteers?

Yes. All volunteers/staff working with children are subject to a thorough background check and training before working with youth. 

What about special needs (e.g., language, learning support)?

The K-5 teacher, Ms. Trish, has certification in special education and ESL; she is fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language. 

Our teen teacher, Erin Powers is a trans-exlcuisve chaplain that is available to youth and adults for support. Email erin.powers@uustpete.org for more details. 

Participation & Volunteering

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How can children join?

Parents or guardians can enroll their children by letting staff know. Contact via RE@uustpete.org is an option. 

Can older children or teens volunteer or intern?

Yes. Teens and young adults are offered volunteer opportunities and internships (including possible college credit).

Logistics & Contact

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What are the office hours for Children's Spiritual Exploration?

The office is closed Mondays. Open Thursday 10 am-3 pm; Friday 10 am-3 pm; Sunday 9 am-1 pm. The Director is available by appointment. 

Where is UU St. Pete located?

Sanctuary: 100 Mirror Lake Drive North, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701. Main Office: 719 Arlington Ave North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

Who can I contact for more information?

The Director of Spiritual Formation (email: re@uustpete.org) is a primary contact. Also, the front desk or office coordinator can forward messages.