We can’t believe we have already reached May! This is the 9th month of the after-school program, and it is flying by! The After School Program is continuously growing with over 585 registered members! We will be closed on May 30th for Memorial Day, but we will be open on May 27th from 10:30 – 3:00 for open gym following the schools early release for after school members. For a look at the May calendar, click here.
This month the MYC is offering:
Arts & Crafts: Arts & Crafts is led by staff member, Joanna Abrantes. This program encourages youth to draw, paint, and craft projects to develop their artistic talents. Arts & Crafts gives kiddos a creative outlet that allows their imaginations to flourish and will be run every Tuesday!
Gardening: Youth will be able to help grow plants in our tower garden and maintain our new compost bin donated by the board of Health on Thursday 5/5 and also have the chance to do a great gardening craft on 5/17 with volunteers, Lindsay Weaver, Teddi Weber, and Phyllis Foley, from the Greenleaf Jr. Gardener Club.
Boxing: Boxing is run by volunteer, Brian Bell. Brian has assisted in running this group in the past and has brings a lot of experience to this program. This is a program where kids will learn basic skills, with no need for any prior boxing knowledge! This is a group class that meets on Thursdays.
Quiet Zone: Quiet Zone takes place Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this month. It offers students a quiet space to access our computer lab and to do their homework or read.
New Human: New Human instructor Coach Aaron Anniballi will focus on basic basketball and fitness skills in order to get the students to basketball/fitness independence. They will work on basic dribbling, shooting, and passing. They will also do a weekly HIIT workout with regressions to keep that heart rate up! This program will take place on Fridays! This program is funded by the Milford Regional Medical Center!
Book Club: The MYC book club will have a new book that is themed to the month’s observed awareness. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we will be reading “Out of my Mind”, by Sharon M. Draper. This is all thanks to Milford Girl Scout, Carly Haley! Book club will take place on Tuesdays! To participate, registered after-school members must sign up by Tuesday, April 26th, for staff to have adequate time to get enough books. If you have questions or if you would like to sign up for the next month, please contact milfordyouthcenter@milfordma.gov
Nail Painting: On May 25th, our part time staff, Paige, will be doing some fun nail designs! This is a great opportunity to get some Memorial Day and spring themed nails!
Milford TV: This will be run by the amazing crew over at MilfordTV and give the students an opportunity to learn videography skills along with creating their own multi-media projects! This program will run on Wednesdays in April, and you must sign up in advance (limited space)!
Open Gym and Rotating Activities: Open gym is a non-structured program where youth are allowed free play and choice of activities in the gym. We will also rotate gym games like volleyball, soccer, badminton, and more on Wednesday’s!
Weight Room: This program will be overseen by MYC staff. It will give the kids 12-18 an opportunity to use the weight equipment safely. This will take place on Mondays!
Fishing: The fishing program is run by volunteer Bob Gilmore. Every Monday students will have the opportunity to walk down to Milford Pond to learn bait and fishing techniques with no prior experience needed!
Italian: This program is run by Mariangela Kosmicki, a volunteer that moved to the United States from Italy. In this program the students will be learning the basic structure of the Italian language! This program will take place on Tuesdays!
Basketball Skills: This program will be run by Aaron Anniballi and take place on Mondays! Aaron will teach the student’s basketball skills in a group setting and help grow their basketball knowledge!
STEAM: This program brings science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics together to engage students in experimental learning and problem-solving! This program will take place on Thursday the 19th!
We also hope kids will join the Milford Youth Center Staff for Spirit Week! The week of May 16th the MYC will be showing their spirit through five crazy days:
- Monday – Wacky Sock Day
- Tuesday – Hawaiian Day
- Wednesday – Blackout Day
- Thursday – Pajama Day
- Friday – Sport Day
The Milford Youth Center hosts many different events and activities throughout the year for the youth of Milford and the Milford Schools. The Youth Center’s after school program is open for youth ages 8-18, free of charge, from 2:15-6pm, Monday through Friday. Only students registered by 1PM each day will be allowed to attend. Any forms received after 1PM, will be allowed to attend the following program day, if completed correctly. This is to ensure we have adequate time to process registrations.
- That Milford Youth Center is not licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care or any other state agency;
- Registered youth may arrive at or depart from the program at any time during their time at the program.
- As of Monday, February 28th, we will be mask optional. It is important to note that we will support all members and staff who choose to wear a mask after the mandate is lifted. It is possible if conditions shift that masks may be required again sometime in the future as well. This does not change our policy in terms of attending being sick and/or having COVID symptoms. If you don’t go to school due to any type of illness you are not allowed to attend the Center;
- Please make sure your child brings a water bottle with them daily, to refill;
- There is no hanging out in front of the MYC property unless students are waiting to enter and/or to be picked up;
- All students must be picked up by the time of closing, unless they walk home. Pick-up is outside of the youth center at 24 Pearl St (use intercom to communicate with the front desk);
- The Youth Center is not responsible for the care or supervision of children beyond program closing time;
- All lost and found items without names on them are donated and/or recycled (water bottles) at the end of each month as it accumulates quickly! Please remind your child/participant to check daily as they exit;
- Please visit our polices here: behavioral, weather, health and traffic.
- For video of rules, produced by Milford TV click here (video was made prior to mask optional, just FYI).
All participants of the Youth Center must annually fill out our registration form to be a member. Once this form is completed, members will receive a key tag and ID number if they are new to the program. This is our way of tracking attendance, so please make sure all members bring their key tag in order to enter. If key tags are lost, the Youth Center will charge $1.00 for a replacement.
The Youth Center also offers a free snack and dinner program, due to the collaboration of CACFP, Hockomock Area YMCA, and the Milford School Food & Nutrition Services department. Members will also be able to use our washer and dryer, free of charge, during our hours of operation.
For online registration forms click below:
COVID Update: Unfortunately, the likelihood of COVID exposure does rise with Holidays so please review all current COVID Guidance for unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals from the Milford Board of Health. Everyone should self-monitor for any symptoms. If we are communicated about a COVID case, we immediately connect and get guidance from the Milford Board of Health.
If your child has been exposed to a COVID 19 positive person, or has symptoms of COVID 19, please do not send your child to Youth Center as they may expose others. Keep them home and get them tested. Your child must stay home until you are notified of the test results and if positive, please let us know if they attended the Center ASAP. If your child is not going to school due to any type of sickness, then they should not be attending the after school program (testing and quarantine response protocols). For a list of local COVID 19 testing sites, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-test-search-results
- Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chill
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Muscle aches or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms\