Nurturing Young Hearts, Growing Strong Minds, Building a Foundation of Faith.

At the United Church of Gainesville, we cherish our children and youth, nurturing them in an inclusive and welcoming faith community. From infancy through high school, we offer programs that foster spiritual growth, curiosity, and connection through storytelling, hands-on activities, and service opportunities. Whether it’s our engaging Sunday programs, middle and high school youth groups, or special events like Camp UCG, we strive to create a space where young people feel valued, supported, and inspired.

Take a moment to explore our programs, and if you have questions or want to get involved, reach out at info@ucgainesville.org.

Children, Youth, and Families Program Details

Infants & Pre-school

We cherish the children and youth of our church and offer programs that nurture our children in inclusive faith. The 10 a.m. service includes a children’s story that ties in with the worship theme.

Nursery

UCG offers nursery care for babies and toddlers by CPR and First Aid certified, boundary trained, and experienced staff from 9:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on Sunday mornings. The nursery is located in Room 7 of the Education Wing on the west side of the church.

Caregiver’s Room

Located at the back of the Sanctuary, this room is furnished with rocking chairs, toys, and a sound system to enable parents with very young children to participate in worship while tending to their children.

Kids United

During the school year, immediately following the children’s story during Sunday service, staff escort the children to Kids United—UCG’s version of church school—for hands-on activities that weave in the spiritual themes of the worship services. 

Following Kids United, the children are escorted to supervised activity time, where they may choose to participate in a craft project, games or other activities. Childcare and activity time continue through 12:30pm, offering caregivers the time to attend the Sunday Seminar, a committee meeting, or to socialize with others in the courtyard.

Middle School Together (MST)

Middle School Together meets Sundays at 11:15 a.m. in the Youth Room on the second floor of Reimer Hall. Spiritual topics and outreach opportunities are combined with team-building activities, games, discussions, and lots of fun.

Youth United (YU)

Youth United, UCG’s high school programming, meets Sundays at 11:15am, starting in the Youth Room on the second floor of Reimer Hall before heading out to a different room. Spiritual topics and outreach opportunities are combined with team-building activities, games, discussions and lots of fun. The annual Mystery Trip weekend and Work Tour provide opportunities for both outreach and social bonding.

Our Whole Lives (OWL)

Offered annually, Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education class that fosters informed, responsible, and values-based decisions about sexual health and behavior. Age-appropriate iterations are offered for all age groups on a rotating basis: Kindergarten-3rd, 4th-6th, middle,high school, young adult, adult, and older adult cohorts.

Read more about the OWL program

Camp UCG

C.A.M.P UCG is a one-week summer day camp, typically in July, for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. It is a fun and safe multi-faith and multi-cultural camp with a commitment to peace, justice and a connection to the earth. Group continuity, team building, reflections on faith and a wide variety of games and activities are part of this fun-filled meaningful experience.

Safety and Protection Policy

Click here to download our Safety and Protection Policy