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Welcome to The Depot Youth Center, where Darien's teens and tweens can find a welcoming, fun and social environment away from outside pressures. The Depot fulfills its mission through various programs, events and activities throughout the school year for 4th-12th grade youth in a judgment-free and safe setting. All public, private, or homeschooled teens are invited to join in the fun!
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🦃 Registration is NOW OPEN for The Depot’s 4th Annual Overstuffed Turkey Trot, presented by Yale New Haven Health Urgent Care!
Keep the Thanksgiving fun going! The day after Thanksgiving, gather your family and friends and join us for a fun, family-friendly 5K or 1-Mile Walk/Run around the Darien High School cross-country trail - benefiting The Depot, Darien’s Youth Center 💙
📅 Friday, November 27
📍 Darien High School
🎟️ Race-day check-in begins at 9:00 AM
🏃 1-Mile Walk/Run: 10:00 AM
🏃♀️ 5K Walk/Run: 10:30 AM
Adults are just $45 through October 31, so register early and save! Kids ages 6–12 are $30, and children 5 and under are FREE.
Gather a team of five or more and save $5 per adult runner!
Last year, more than 550 runners joined us for a morning of music, children’s games, food and community fun. Grab your family and friends and come trot with us! 🧡
A special thank-you to our presenting sponsor, Yale New Haven Health Urgent Care, for supporting The Depot and helping make this community event possible!
Register today at dariendepot.com.
#OverstuffedTurkeyTrot #TheDepotDarien #DarienCT #TurkeyTrot
🎃 Halloween fun is coming to The Depot!
Join us October 30 for a costume contest, games, prizes, pizza and more. 👻
🕷️ Middle School: 2:30–4:00 PM
🕸️ 4th & 5th Grade: 4:30–6:00 PM
🎟️ $30 per student
Register at dariendepot.com. Scholarships are available; no refunds. 🧡
Recent headlines have brought a hard conversation back to the forefront - How do we keep young people safe and help them look out for one another?
At The Depot, teens in our high school clubs work with community partners to talk through difficult situations, role-play, and practice the words they’d actually use.
📆 This fall, we’re working with the Rowan Center and other community partners on an expert-led event for parents and teens. Details coming soon.
We stand with survivors, and with our kids as they learn to look out for each other.
If your teen isn’t part of a Depot high school club or middle school program yet, we’d love to have them.
Learn more at dariendepot.com.
If you or someone you know needs support:
• Rowan Center 24-hour hotline: 203-329-2929
• DVCC hotline: 203-588-9097
Let’s tackle this together 💙
⛸️ Early dismissal for conferences?
Make it a skating party! Join us at the Darien Ice House:
📍 55 Old Kings Hwy N
🕒 Hindley, Royle & Tok dismiss at 11 AM
🕦 Holmes & Ox dismiss at 11:30 AM
$40 includes skate rental, pizza and drinks. Scholarships are available, and space is limited to 100 kids. Register at DarienDepot.com!
🪩⛸️ MIDDLE SCHOOL — we’re turning down the lights and turning up the music!
Grab your friends and join us for a night of skating, music, pizza and fun at the Darien Ice House!
📅 Saturday, November 14
⏰ 8:00–9:30 PM
📍 Darien Ice House
💲 $40 — includes skate rental, pizza & drinks
🎟️ Space is limited to 125 kids
💙 Scholarships are available
➡️ Register at DarienDepot.com
Don’t wait — grab your spot and we’ll see you on the ice! ❄️⛸️🎶
#TheDepotDarien #MiddleSchool #IceSkatingParty
🎡🎟️ MIDDLE SCHOOL CARNIVAL NIGHT!
Grab your friends and get ready for a night of rides and fun at Tokeneke School!
📅 Friday, October 16
⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Tokeneke School
🎟️ $40 per person — rides included!
⚠️ Advance registration is required — NO walk-ins.
Don’t wait to grab your spot!
Like 👍 & Share 🗣️
➡️ Register at DarienDepot.com
#TheDepotDarien #MiddleSchool #CarnivalNight
Parents ⚠️ Don’t miss this one. 👀
As we navigate this rapidly changing world of AI with our kids, Screenagers: Generation AI is incredibly eye-opening and, at times, pretty shocking.
The film explores how AI is already shaping the way young people learn, connect, create and navigate their everyday lives — often in ways parents may not even realize.
This is an important conversation for families raising kids in a world that’s changing incredibly fast.
📅 Wednesday, October 14
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM
📍 Darien Library
👨👩👧 Recommended for grades 6–12 and parents/caregivers
Registration is required at DarienLibrary.org.
Bring your kids, watch together, and come ready for a really important conversation. 💙
#TheDepotDarien #Screenagers #GenerationAI
OCTOBER 11 — Middle School Babysitting Course
👶 Ready to become a confident babysitter?
The Depot’s Babysitting Course for Middle Schoolers is a full-day SafeSitters course taught by certified CPR instructors and designed to give students the skills they need to safely and confidently care for children.
Students will learn:
✓ Safety Skills
✓ Child Care Skills
✓ First Aid & Rescue
✓ Marketing & Business Skills
📅 Sunday, October 11
⏰ 10:00 AM–3:00 PM — BYO lunch
💲 $150
Presented in partnership with Post 53 Darien Emergency Medical Services.
➡️ Register at DarienDepot.com
OCTOBER 9 & 25th - Safe@Home
🏠 Is your child ready to stay home alone?
The Depot is excited to offer Safe@Home by SafeSitter, a 90-minute program designed for students in grades 4–6 to help them feel prepared, confident and safe when home alone.
📅 Friday, October 9
⏰ 4:00–5:30 PM
💲 $45
Registration includes a Safe@Home student manual and Important Information memo board.
➡️ Register at DarienDepot.com
Can’t make this one? We’re offering a second session on Sunday, October 25 from 4:00–5:30 PM!
🎓 Calling all high school juniors & parents!
Junior year is a big one — and having a plan can make all the difference.
Join Carnegie Prep for a FREE live webinar covering everything from SAT/ACT planning and the PSAT to academics, extracurriculars and building a balanced college list.
📅 Thursday, October 8
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM
💻 Live Webinar
Can’t make it live? Register anyway to receive the recording and slides afterward!
A great resource for families navigating the college admissions process. 💙
🚨 HACKED / SPAM — DO NOT OPEN! 🚨
If you received this “Solicitation for Proposals” message appearing to come from The Depot, please DO NOT click the link or open any attachments.
This is NOT from The Depot. Please delete it immediately.
✨ Big ideas start with “I can.”
Help your 4th & 5th grade girl practice speaking up, trusting herself, and dreaming bigger with Girls& at The Depot.
The three-part series begins September 30, with additional workshops October 14 and 25.
$150 includes the complete series and materials.
🔗 Dariendepot.com
AT A GLANCE
35+
Years Serving Local Teens Since Opening Our Doors In 1989 As One Of The Nation's First Youth Centers.
2,250
Youth Served Annually: Unique Teens and Tweens Who Walk Through Our Doors Each Year.
4,032
Participants Across Depot Events This Year
45+
Annual Substance-Free Events For Darien's Youth
99%
Felt Included at The Depot
93%
Felt More Connected
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
