CONNECT · GROW · GIVE BACK
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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🎡🎃 IMPORTANT CARNIVAL CLARIFICATION! 🎃🎡
We wanted to clear up some confusion surrounding this weekend’s carnival events at Tokeneke School!
These are TWO completely separate events, organized by two different organizations.
❌ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 — CANCELED
The Depot’s Middle School Carnival Night, originally scheduled for tonight, has been canceled due to the weather forecast.
✅ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 — STILL HAPPENING!
The Tokeneke PTO Pumpkin Carnival is ON for tomorrow, from 10 AM–4 PM at Tokeneke Elementary School! 🎃🎡 @tokeneke_pto
🎟️ PLEASE NOTE: Wristbands purchased for tonight’s canceled Depot event CANNOT be used at tomorrow’s Tokeneke PTO Pumpkin Carnival. However, families are welcome to attend and purchase ride tickets at the carnival ticket booth!
📩 Families registered for The Depot’s event should check their email for important information regarding refunds, donations, and cancellation details.
We appreciate everyone’s understanding and hope you all have a wonderful time at tomorrow’s Pumpkin Carnival! 🧡💙
🎡💔 CARNIVAL NIGHT CANCELED 💔🎡
We are SO sorry to share that tonight’s Middle School Carnival Night at Tokeneke School has been CANCELED due to the forecast for thunderstorms and lightning.
Unfortunately, our carnival vendor has determined that the rides cannot operate safely. We explored postponing until tomorrow, but their travel schedule makes that impossible.
We know how excited the kids were, and we were just as excited! We are incredibly disappointed, but everyone’s safety must always come first.
💙 All registered families have been sent an email with important information regarding refunds and the option to donate their registration fee to The Depot. Please check your inbox for details!
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We wish we had better news and are so sorry to disappoint everyone! 🎡💔
🀄️ THE MAHJONG CRAZE HAS HIT THE DEPOT! 🀄️🎉
🌟 ONLY 5 spots left!
Our middle school Mahjong classes kicked off yesterday, and the excitement was REAL! 🙌 Kids had a blast learning the game, building new skills, and playing with friends.
Want in on the fun? We still have a few seats available, and it’s NOT too late to join us!
Grab a friend, come learn something new, and see what all the Mahjong buzz is about! 💚
📆Tuesdays: 3-4:30pm
We can’t wait to see you at The Depot! 🀄️✨
🎪🎃 TOKENEKE CARNIVAL IS ALMOST HERE! 🎡🍁
Middle School Night is FRIDAY, and we can’t wait for a fun night under the carnival lights! 🎟️✨
🚨 IMPORTANT WRISTBAND PICK-UP INFO! 🚨
Skip the lines and pick up your child’s wristband ahead of time at The Depot (25 Heights Road)!
🎟️ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
⏰ 3:00–7:00 PM
🎟️ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
‼️ PLEASE NOTE:
Wristbands are REQUIRED for entry! We strongly encourage picking yours up in advance to make check-in as quick and easy as possible.
Can’t make either pick-up time? No worries! Your child can pick up their wristband at the carnival check-in tables.
🚫 NO WALK-INS! All attendees must be pre-registered.
We can’t wait for a night of carnival fun with our middle schoolers! 🎃🎡🎪
#TheDepotDarien #TokenekeCarnival #MiddleSchoolNight #DarienCT
Ever tried to walk a straight line while impaired? Our SADD students found out last night.
Club advisor and Darien Police Lieutenant TJ Moore brought the impairment goggles and ran the kids through a real field sobriety test. Lots of laughing. Lots of stumbling. Even our executive director Amy Daniels took a turn, and let’s just say she wouldn’t have passed either.
Then a real conversation about what it looks like when this isn’t a game.
Thank you, Lieutenant Moore 💙
Next SADD meeting: Tuesday, October 27 at 7 PM at The Depot. New members always welcome, so bring a friend.
#DarienSADD #TheDepot #DarienCT #TeenDriverSafety #RedRibbonWeek
💙 Connection, kindness, giving back… and BABY CHICKS! 🐥💙
Monday night’s empowHER meeting was a little bit of everything we love about this club!
Our high school girls learned about the YWCA’s upcoming Week Without Violence and the important work of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC).
🕯️ The girls also rolled up their sleeves to assemble Empowerment Light kits for the DVCC’s upcoming fundraiser. Proceeds will help provide welcome baskets for individuals and families transitioning into safe housing. A small act of kindness that can make a BIG difference for someone starting over. 💙
🐥 And of course, we had some VERY special guests! Nothing like a few adorable baby chicks to bring some extra smiles (and cuddles!) to the evening!
We love seeing these girls come together, make new connections, learn about important issues, and find meaningful ways to give back to their community.
This is what empowHER is all about! 💙
✨ Interested in joining? New faces are ALWAYS welcome! Come check out our next meeting, bring a friend, and see what we’re all about!
#TheDepotDarien #empowHER #GirlsEmpoweringGirls #GivingBack #CommunityConnection
🚨 SADD TOMORROW NIGHT! 🚨
High schoolers, come hang with us at The Depot tomorrow night from 7–8 PM! 🌊
👮♂️ This week, Lt. TJ Moore from the Darien Police Department @darien_police is bringing the fun with an interactive field sobriety test demonstration!
🥽 We’ll be using impairment goggles to see firsthand how alcohol can affect your vision, coordination, balance, and judgment. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn about making safe, smart choices!
💙 Never been to SADD before? NO PROBLEM!
You don’t have to be a member to come check it out! Bring a friend, see what we’re all about, and if you love it, you can sign up afterward!
No pressure, no experience needed. Just show up, get involved, and have some fun!
📅 Tuesday, October 13
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM
📍 The Depot | 25 Heights Road
Bring a friend. Try something new. Make a difference! 💙
#TheDepotDarien #SADD #StudentsAgainstDestructiveDecisions #DarienCT #HighSchoolClubs
💜empowHER TOMORROW NIGHT! 💜
High school girls, join us tomorrow night from 6:30–7:30 PM at The Depot for an evening of connection, community, and making a difference!
✨ We’ll learn about the YWCA’s upcoming Week Without Violence and the important work of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC).
🕯️ We’ll also be assembling Empowerment Light kits for the DVCC’s upcoming fundraiser. Proceeds will help create welcome baskets for individuals and families moving into safe housing through the DVCC. A small act of kindness can make a big difference when someone is starting over. 💜
🐥 AND… we’ll have these adorable baby chicks available for some cuddles!
Never joined empowHER before? No worries! Come check us out tomorrow night and see if it’s your thing. You can register for the club afterward if you love it!
Bring a friend and come hang with us. We can’t wait to see you! 💜
🦃 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!
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
