Summer Interest Groups

Explore your religious/philosophical past, how you got to UU and any trauma or epiphanies along the way. We will be talking, journaling and doing a time-line while keeping confidentiality within the group. In order to work, we need a minimum of 5 participants. Our goal is to explore the positives and negatives on our personal journeys. We will celebrate the good that we have brought along with us to the present and let go of the negative. Please check your schedules and if you are interested, get in touch with Cassey Crouch so the necessary materials can be available.

The very general topic for all will be “Current Events”, broadly interpreted.  For example it could involve precedents, analysis, predictions, roots of, coping with, or whatever.  Each lead will definitely post their title & blurb to TUUCannounce sometime during the week prior.

Foodies Unite! Come ready to share your favorite recipes, local restaurant recommendations, and specialty grocery spots as we engage in a free-wheeling discussion of all things food.

The unpredictable and chaotic actions of the federal government are creating ripples of insecurity, uncertainty and anxiety, with damaging effects on our emotional well-being and personal relationships. In recent conversations with several participants in Thoreau services, I have seen an interest in being able to slow down thoughts and emotion that sometimes seem to pile up in our minds, particularly during stressful times.  I believe that doing simple exercises and brief mindfulness practices can be very helpful. 

At our first session on June 29, we will discuss your favorite artist or band and why you like them. At the second session on July 20 we will talk about who most influenced your music listening and/or playing — parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc.?

A welcoming space for UU adults navigating life with ADHD. We gather to share experiences, exchange resources, and offer each other understanding and a lot of humor on this journey. We delve into topics relevant to our lives, from executive function to building meaningful relationships, all within the context of our UU values. Expect open hearts, open minds, and definitely a few tangents!

This summer book club will focus on fiction books to include genres such as paranormal, fantasy and sci fi. The first book for the July 6th meeting will be The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec. This book can be found at your local library, purchased online, or through apps such as Libby by linking your library card.

We will address several (but not necessarily all of) the goals below.  If interest and participation are strong, and/or we don't get to some of the goals, we might consider arranging another session later in July, if that would be feasible within the overall summer activity schedule.

Goals: 

1.    To share one or more of your favorite poets/poems (number to depend on number of participants and length of your chosen poems).

2.    To share one or more poems that you have written in the past, or that you wrote specifically for this workshop (optional).

3.    To discuss the interpretation of poems.

4.    To discuss the poem writing process, including varying individual approaches.

Come and walk the mowed paths all around the beautiful Thoreau grounds and find out about its plants and animals. We may see interesting insects, especially butterflies, dragonflies and bees! Be prepared for heat and chiggers. Cover up!

Copilot, Claude, and Grok -- oh my! The world of AI tools is vast, and in this information & discovery session we'll be diving deeper into the sub-list of "AI assistants" that have been designed to 'help' us get through the barrage of data coming at us every day. This session aims to answer the following questions:

·         Who owns the tool?

·         How much does it cost?

·         What was its intended use?

·         Why would I use one over the other?

Where do we go for information. This will be a sharing of progressive media shows, podcast, newsletters, talk shows, networks from politics to social justice.

Long dismissed as myth, the story of Atlantis may hold deeper significance when viewed through the lens of archaeology and cross-cultural study. This talk explores striking parallels in ancient architecture, symbolism, and societal myths across the globe—raising questions about shared memory, lost knowledge, and the resilience of oral tradition. Without resorting to speculation, we’ll consider how converging evidence from geology, anthropology, and ancient texts invites a more nuanced look at humanity’s forgotten past.

What holds a democracy together—and what threatens to pull it apart? This discussion aims to explore The Federalist Papers (written in 1787–88 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay) through a Unitarian Universalist lens. Together, we’ll reflect on the tensions and paradoxes at the heart of America’s founding documents, and how they resonate with our UU principles today. No prior reading required—just bring your curiosity and civic spirit.

Senior citizens often require a variety of services to support their health, independence, and quality of life. This is a discussion of some essential types of services needed and available for seniors. What services and how can Thoreau assist our seniors?

-Health care services

-Personal care services

-Nutritional services

-Transportation 

-Social & Recreational Services 

-Housing & Living Arrangements 

-Independent Communities

-Financial & Legal Services 

-Mental Health Services

-Advocacy Services 

- Technical Assistance 

-Care Giver Breaks

Every Sunday this summer, kids of all ages will create their very own zines—mini magazines filled with drawings, writing, and imagination! Each week, they'll explore a Unitarian Universalist principle through a fun and meaningful art activity. By the end of seven weeks, every child will have a one-of-a-kind zine to share and celebrate!