Who is the town’s youth director?

Alicia Sillars is Darien’s youth director. She may be reached at 656-7326 or asillars@darienct.gov.

What does the Youth Commission do?

The Youth Commission (656-7326) is made up of seven appointed adults, a full-time youth director, and a Youth Advisory Committee, with at least eight high school students.

The commission produces a monthly calendar of children’s programs and activities — What’s Up for Kids — which is distributed through elementary schools and the Darien Library, and is sent to local media. The commission also sponsors a number of activities for young people.

How do I find a day care facility for my child?

Infoline at 211 maintains current listings of all state-licensed facilities in Connecticut. Childcare counselors will help parents assess the quality of different programs. Both the phone call and service are free.

Is there a daycare/baby-sitting program?

Tot Drop is a licensed daycare/flexible baby-sitting service offered through Noroton Presbyterian Church. Children between the ages of six months and four years can register for the program. For information, call 655-1451, ext. 15.

What is the legal drinking age?

In Connecticut, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to possess alcohol anywhere in the state, including on private property. It is also illegal for anyone to knowingly allow minors to possess alcohol.

What is TOPS?

An acronym for Teen Options, TOPS offers drug-free and alcohol-free social activities for Darien’s middle school students. There are organized, chaperoned events for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Registration forms are in the Youth Commission office in town hall or online at darienct.gov. For information, call 656-7326 or go to the town Web site.

What is there for teenagers to do in town?

The Depot (655-0812), at the Noroton Heights train station, is a drug-free and alcohol-free community center for high school students. It is open Monday for Study Night from 6 to 9, Tuesday through Thursday from 2:30 to 9, Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11:30. The Depot has a large dance floor; full kitchen; recreation room with TV, VCR, Ping-Pong, and pool; and outdoor basketball courts. There are events planned throughout the year. For details, visit dariendepot.org.

Is there a Safe Rides Program?

The American Red Cross runs a Safe Rides program Friday and Saturday nights from 10 to 1:30. Call 655-6551.

Who helps troubled teenagers?

Family and Youth Options (655-8973/liberationprograms.org), 2 Renshaw Road, is a counseling program that is part of Liberation Programs Inc. Its goal is to help young people, pre-teen to 18, and their families who are having difficulty coping with the challenges of adolescence. The program offers individual and family counseling, peer leadership groups, and community outreach.

Kids in Crisis offers preventive services and immediate intervention for children in crisis. It is a United Way agency, licensed by the Department of Children and Families, that provides both crisis counseling and a short-term residential shelter for children of all ages. Support and counseling is available free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information, call 327-KIDS or visit kidsincrisis.org.

The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, 975 Post Road (662-9380/childguidancect.org) is a nonprofit mental health resource for area children and families, receiving referrals from schools, courts, human service agencies, and private physicians. Self-referrals are also encouraged.

The center also offers an Emergency Mobile Crisis Service, providing immediate mental health assessments and stabilization services for children and adolescents experiencing serious psychiatric symptoms or severe reactions to a recent traumatic event. The service is available 24/7. Call 323-9797 or 888-825-6777.

The Den for Grieving Kids is a grief support group offered through Family Center Services. Call 655-4693 or visit online at familycenters.org.

Is there a children’s theater group?

The DAC Kids’ Theatre at the Darien Arts Center (655-8683/arts.darien.org/theatre/theatreMain.php) offers  improvisation, theater games, scene studies, and short skits. Mini-plays are rehearsed and performed at the end of each semester. The DAC says its goal is to provide “a voice for each student and tools that can be used for a lifetime.”

Is there a summer camp?

The Youth Commission runs a summer camp for children entering first through ninth grade, with sessions at different locations in town. For details, call 656-7326.

The Darien Nature Center offers summer programs for children 3 to 6, 6 to 8,  and 8 to 11, with an emphasis on nature and science. For information, call 655-7459/dnc.darien.org.

The Darien YMCA at 2420 Post Road offers summer camping programs for pre-school through school age children. Activities include swimming, sailing and canoeing, arts and crafts, music and drama, sports, games, gymnastics, and group activities. Although Y membership is not required, members get priority registration. For details, call 655-8228 or visit online at darien-ymca.org.

Methodist Family Center Preschool (655-7407) offers a summer camp program.

The Darien Historical Society runs a summer camp. Call 655-9233.

Who offers children’s sports?

Darien Parks and Recreation offers many youth programs including: Future Stars Basketball program for boys and girls, instructional soccer programs for children of all ages, golf lessons, swimming lessons, tennis lessons, paddle tennis lessons, baseball, horsemanship clinics and camps, and Future Stars Cheerleading. Call 656-7325, visit darienct.gov/parkrec/ or check the brochures for classes, programs and camps.

The Darien YMCA (655-8228/darien-ymca.org) has a house basketball league for children in third to eighth grade, emphasizing developmental skills. There is also a fourth-grade developmental program, a travel league for fifth through eighth grades, and a high school league. There are also programs for younger children. There is also an extensive gymnastics program, including competitive teams. The YMCA also offers indoor and outdoor soccer programs for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. A youth sailing program offers beginner lessons to seven- to 12-year-olds. The Piranha Swim Team is the Darien YMCA’s competitive swimming program for children and teens.

Darien Little League is open to boys and girls 8 to 11 years old. Registration takes place in mid-winter. Darien Youth Softball is open to boys and girls 8 to 14 years old. There are also Tee Ball, first grade and second grade programs. For details, visit dybs.org.

The Challenger Division of Darien Little League is for physically disabled children. Call Charlie Santos-Buch at 656-3610 or e-mail buch@ubscapital.com.

The Darien Babe Ruth League is for children 13 to 15. E-mail Larry Maul at trek309@aol.com.

Future Stars Academy offers a baseball/softball program through the recreation department. Call 656-7325.

The Fairfield County Football League offers tackle and flag programs for boys and girls in Darien. For information, call visit online at fairfieldcountyfootball.org.

Darien Youth Lacrosse has programs for boys and girls, from beginner to seasoned players. There are spring games and summer camps. Call Tom Seiler at 656-3421, e-mail tseiler@ramtex.com, or visit online at dylax.com.

The Darien Youth Hockey Association (dyha.com) program is for boys and girls at the Darien Ice Rink. The season runs from October through mid-March. There are clinics and travel team tryouts in September. Call Steve Baker at 716-8082 or e-mail sbaker7398@aol.com.

All Star Ice Cubs Hockey offers a 10-week clinic for three- to five-year-olds. Call 655-7574 or pick up a brochure at the Darien Ice Rink.

Darien Hockey Camp, for players 5 to 18 years old, takes place in July and August. Call the ice rink at 655-8251.

The Darien Soccer Association offers programs for eight- to 14-year-olds. Call Doug Rischmann at 232-1587 or visit dariensoccer.org.

The Darien Junior Sailing Team offers summer programs for beginner to experienced sailors. Four levels of instruction are offered from basic sailing to advanced racing techniques. Young sailors (8 to 14) learn independent decision making, boat handling, and to work as a team. Registration is in mid-February.

Brochures are at the parks and recreation department and the Darien Library. Registration forms are online. For complete information, call Peggy O’Halloran at 656-0616 or visit online at sail.darien.org.

Are there any job opportunities for teenagers?

Through the Parks and Recreation Department, there are seasonal positions available including lifeguards, paddle court attendants, swim instructors, sailing instructors, maintenance staff, and program staff. Call 656-7325 or visit darienct.gov/parkrec/.

The Darien Youth Commission sponsors the JOBS office at Darien High School during the school year and Youth Options (655-8973) during the summer. The office operates like a job bank, matching people looking for help — in retail, as a mother’s helper, doing yard work, etc. — with young people looking for work. For information, call 655-3113. Additionally, the Youth Commission hires older teenagers as camp counselors during vacation activity programs and summer camp.

Are there any youth volunteer programs?

The Darien chapter of the American Red Cross has a youth program called RCAT. Its mission is to contribute to the community through volunteer work, and to promote emergency preparedness in both the youth and adults of the community. For information, call 655-2586 or go online to dsredcross.org.

High school members of the Kids in Crisis Youth Corps (kidsincrisis.org) act as child advocates throughout Fairfield County. The group meets the first Thursday of each month at the Darien Depot. Call Jamie Dorman at 327-KIDS or e-mail jdorman@kidsincrisis.org.

Does anyone offer a baby-sitting course?

The Red Cross in Darien offers a baby-sitting course for boys and girls 11 to 15. Emphasized are responsibilities of a baby-sitter, child developmental stages, child care, activities for young children, accident prevention, and basic first aid. For a schedule, call 655-2586 or go online to dsredcross.org.

Is there a resource of services for children?

The Darien Blue Book is a community resource guide with information on education, healthcare, family support services, children’s programs, and things to do. It was produced by the Children’s Council and sponsored by the Youth Commission and Darien Board of Realtors. Copies may be purchased at the YWCA, YMCA, Youth Commission office, and Barrett Bookstore.

In addition, Infoline 211, Darien Social Services, and the Darien Youth Commission offer information.