Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training 2024

August 16th – 18th
Grades K-1/4-6  –  Grades 7-9/10-12

Schedule:
•    Friday: 5:00 to 5:30 PM Check in, 5:30 Dinner, Training until 9:00 PM
•    Saturday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Training, with breaks and meals
•    Sunday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Training, with breaks and meals

Sponsored by
North Texas Unitarian Universalist Congregations (NTUUC)

First Unitarian Church of Dallas
4015 Normandy Avenue, Dallas Texas 75205

Workshop Descriptions:

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Facilitator Trainings are intended to prepare individuals to lead OWL programs in their community. This is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities. OWL Facilitators are required to be 21 years of age or at least four years older than the students at the level they will facilitate to teach in Unitarian Universalist congregational settings.

    • If your congregation does not currently have an OWL program, it is recommended to send a diverse teams of at least two people. If your congregation does have an established OWL program, you may send any number of prospective teachers.
    • Each level is limited to twenty participants, with a minimum of ten; we need to have at least six people registered by the early cutoff of July 17th. In the unlikely event that the minimum is not met, that level will be canceled and participants will be refunded the registration fee.
    •  

Workshop Site Information:

Meals:
Fees include dinner Friday, three meals Saturday and two meals Sunday.  Ample snacks and drinks are provided throughout the training.  Please indicate dietary requirements on the registration form.

Transportation:
Transportation to and from the airport is the responsibility of attendees. Most of the major car rental companies have facilities at D/FW Airport and Dallas’ Love Field. Please check with your hotel to determine if free shuttle service between the airport and hotel is available. It is only about a 10-minute trip from Love Field to the church and at least a 30-minute ride from D/FW Airport.

Ridesharing
Please specify 4012 St. Andrews as your destination.

Parking Information
[DallasUU.org detailed parking information]
Sunday parking is available in the YMCA’s underground garage.  Friday and Saturday, there are fifty spaces on the south side of the block, along St. Andrews and in the lot.

Parking at the YMCA Garage
There are 302 parking spaces and 6 handicap spaces (these are located next to the elevator)

  • Enter the parking garage off Normandy – enter on the right hand side
  • Exit only through the elevator or stairwell at the southwest corner of the garage – the other exits are for emergencies only and will trigger an alarm
  • When entering the elevator press 1R to go to Church – this will exit you on the street side of the Y facing the church
  • When returning to your car on entering the elevator press G for ground floor

Normandy Avenue
We have limited parking spots on Normandy Avenue, which we ask you to reserve for seniors and people who have mobility challenges.

St. Andrews Drive
There are spots adjacent to the church along St. Andrews, as well as a back lot accessible from St. Andrews. Please do not park in the Bank of America lot across St. Andrews.


Hotel Information
There are a wide variety of hotels within a 10-mile radius of First Unitarian Church in Dallas, including the Quality Inn & Suites Dallas-CityPlace or the La Quinta just a few blocks from the Quality Inn. There are also several new hotels near Love Field airport and a number along US 75 (Central Expessway), including The Beeman, Hyatt House, and DoubleTree. Please let us know if you are interested in being put in touch with other out-of-towners so you might share accommodations and lower the cost.

We can also inquire about home hospitality if needed, but please understand the Dallas area is huge, and home hospitality might entail a 30-45 minute drive each way to/from the training site. If you need suggestions or directions, please contact Lauren Daniell at OWLTraining@ntuuc.org

Financial Assistance
NTUUC member congregations may inquire about financial assistance.  To submit an application, please use our form here. 

Dietary Options:
Vegan, vegetarian meals, and other options, can be specified on the registration form.

Childcare:
Childcare will not be available for these workshops.

Home Hospitality:
Home hospitality is extremely limited.  Participants are encouraged to room together to cut costs.
Contact the OWL registrar to inquire: OWLTraining@ntuuc.org

Attendance Policy
PLEASE NOTE: IT IS REQUIRED that you attend ALL three days of the facilitator training for your level IN THEIR ENTIRETY. These are very intensive workshops. Please come well-rested and ready to absorb a lot in a short time.

What Do I Need to Bring?
Each participant will need their own copy of the books appropriate to the level they will be teaching. However, if  you have a team of people coming from the same congregation who will be teaching the same level, they are welcome to share copies of the curriculum.  If you do not already have a copy of the curriculum books, check with your religious education professional before ordering copies from the UUA Bookstore: https://www.uuabookstore.org  Books will NOT be available for purchase at the training site.

Note: Many levels of the OWL curricula are in the process of being updated. The trainers will provide copies of important pages for you in case you cannot obtain the latest curricula.

K-1 & 4-6 Curriculum / Books

  • K-1
    • Our Whole Lives K-1 Unitarian Universalist Edition (2024) Available for pre-order or the Our Whole Lives K-1 2nd Edition  (loose leaf version.)
  • Grades 4-6
    • Our Whole Lives, Grades 4-6  2nd Edition (2023)
    • Sexuality and our Faith Companion for Grades 4-6 (2017)
    • It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris  (2021 edition with purple cover.  Grades 4-6 only)

7-9 & 10-12 Curriculum / Books

  • Grades 7-9
    • Our Whole Lives, Grades 7-9 Curriculum (2014 edition) note: Corrected 2nd edition in process – available for backorder.
    • Sexuality and our Faith Companion for Grades 7-9 (2015 edition)
  • Grades 10-12
      • The Grades 10-12 curriculum is out of print and a new edition is being published soon. No need to bring.


Trainers

K-1/4-6

  • Jennifer Nichols
  • Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer

Grades 7-9/10-12

  • Everardo Aguilar
  • Rev. Sarah Knoll

 Registration & Payments

UPDATE:  Please note that we will continue to accept registrations until August 13th

    • Early Bird Registration Deadline has passed.
    • Regular Registration: $360

    • Registration Assistance update:
      Please note that normally NTUUC can provide up to half of the earlybird price, but because we need the people we’re being more generous and giving more or all of the $360.  Our variable is our meal cost, so we’d appreciate $100 to that end; please use the registration form to let us know what y’all can do.

    • Regular Registration: Registration & Payment Made July 15, 2024 to  August 1st.  If the class is full we can start a waiting list.
    • Registration Fee includes all meals.  Fee does not cover housing/hotel, ground transportation, or curricula.
    • Cancellation Policy:  Notice of cancellation must be received by August 2nd to be eligible for a full refund. There will be no refunds after August 2nd, and/or if a registrant is a no-show at the workshop.

Registration and payment options:

    • Program registration should be done online. If this is a difficulty for you, please contact our registrar, Lauren Daniell, at (817) 832-6437
    • Individual payment can be made online securely via PayPal (preferred method). Please note that a PayPal account is not required to use a credit card to pay for your registration.
    • If you are registering online, but not paying online, a check or Money Order (made out to NTUUC with the name(s) of the trainee(s) on the memo line) can be mailed along with your registration receipt within five (5) days of registration, to OWL Training 2024 Attn: NTUUC  4015 Normandy Avenue  Dallas, TX  75205

If you encounter any problems paying via PayPal while registering, please contact webmaster@ntuuc.org and we will send you an invoice you can pay online separately from the registration submission.

Online Registration
Please fill in the registration form completely.

OWL Training Registration Form

If you wish to share OWL registration information, please share this event page: NTUUC.org/OWL2024
Please do not share links to the registration form.

If a workshop has reached capacity, please contact us at OWLTraining@ntuuc.org
to be added to a waiting list in case there are any cancellations.

Do you still have questions?
Please contact Lauren Daniell at (817) 832-6437
or drop an email to: OWLTraining@ntuuc.org

 Location & Driving Directions
First Unitarian Church of Dallas

Hosted by NTUUC, at:
First Unitarian Church of Dallas
4015 Normandy Avenue Dallas Texas 75205

If you have questions, please contact our event registrar, Lauren Daniell at (817) 832-6437 or at OWLTraining@ntuuc.org
(Please do not contact First Unitarian Church of Dallas for workshop information.)

[Map & Directions to the Event]