It might be tempting to endlessly paddle around in the Tepid Bay, the waters are calm and you’re a safe distance away from everything. But the waters are also shallow. And after the sun sets, it’s kind of lonely out there.

It’s not bad or wrong to be in the Tepid Bay, however. Some people whom you try to bring into your community may choose to stay here and that’s ok. They can still see the beacon of the Covenant Lighthouse, and they’re not very far from the Bonding Harbor if things change for them. Please still consider these folks as part of and in your community, even if they choose to stay in a wider concentric circle.

And, these folks may have vital information for you to consider. Are there reasons or barriers they are experiencing that are keeping them from joining? Do they need the sensory calm the bay provides to even be able to participate at all? Are there accessibility issues or accommodations that need to be addressed so that they can fully participate? Have all the attempts at welcome so far felt culturally irrelevant? (Think: “We need more young people, come join a committee!” or “It feels too formal to use a mic, everyone can hear right?”)

Some deeply invested individuals or communities may find themselves in the Tepid Bay for a spell after a fracture or rupture and before repair. Caring so much and then getting hurt or being disappointed can lead one to apathy or cynicism, two of the favored floatation devices in the Tepid Bay. Individuals or the whole group may need to “take space,” or have some distance and time away, in the Tepid Bay before meeting back up in the Healing Springs, for example. Those still on the mainland can work to re-establish a sense of safety while they await their return.

If none of this resonates for you but your group still seems to be stuck in the Tepid Bay, it may be because they haven’t experienced anything compelling enough to bring them to the mainland. Are they waiting for you to take a prophetic stance against the injustices that impact them and their friends? Do they need a goal to work towards? Do they need to be challenged? Do they need to know more is expected of them? Is there lots of in-fighting and very little impact happening in your community?

A lot of emerging adults (18-24ish) who were very active when they were UU youth end up in the Tepid Bay, perhaps because of things already mentioned. Another reason emerging adults may be in the Tepid Bay is because their adult lives are taking new shapes and the labor of transition (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc) only leaves enough room for peripheral engagement. Don’t discount the ways theyare staying connected, even if it seems “tepid” to you.

There are a variety of activities in this section to help you get your group out of the Tepid Bay once you’ve assessed why they’re there. From simple energizers that revitalize a tired bunch to reflection questions that mirror the intentions and values of the group back to the members, these activities and games will help you heat up or cool down the waters of the Tepid Bay to get your group moving.