We cannot believe we are in month eight of our After School Program, with over 510 registered members! We will be closed on Friday, May 10th for our 2nd annual Golf Tournament and we are also closed on Monday May 27th in observance of Memorial Day. On Friday, May 24th, we will be open from 10:30am to 3:00pm for open-gym for registered after-school members only. For a look at the entire May calendar, click here.
The Milford Youth Center would also be continuing our collaboration with the Hockomock Area YMCA 
and their Food Access Program! Together, we will provide a Mobile Food Pantry monthly for members and their families. On Tuesday, May 14th from 4:30-6:00 pm, in the parking lot across the street from the Youth Center, food will be handed out from the YMCA food truck. A grocery bag of non-perishables will be distributed to any household and there is no sign-up necessary. For more information on the Y’s food access initiatives, click here.
- Open Gym, Game Room, and Free Dinner & Snack: Open gym and the game room are non-structured program spaces, where youth are allowed free play and choose activities. Members are also able to get a free dinner and/or snack in the café/lounge area. At 4:00 every day (if we can) we now use the back court for other sports such as soccer, volleyball and football and only allow basketball in the front court to ensure a variety of sports be played during the after-school program.
- Quiet Zone: Quiet Zone will take place on Tuesdays, May 7th and the 21st and on Thursday, May 30th from 3-3:30pm. It offers students a quiet space to access our computer lab and to do their homework or read.
- Cornerstone Intergenerational Program: Cornerstone of Milford has partnered with the Milford Youth Center to offer intergenerational programs during the after-school program! This program allows the seniors and the youth of Milford a chance monthly to spend time together and with MYC staff. This month, the residents have to host an Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, May 1st from 3:15-4:15 pm. Leah Martel, the Enriched Life Director and Jared Pearson, the Director of Community Relations are thrilled to establish a relationship with the Milford Youth Center to create an intergenerational partnership between our residents and the boys and girls within the town of Milford! They communicated that, “We love to give back to our associates, our community, and most importantly, our residents!”
- Weight Room: This program is overseen by MYC staff. It will give kids, ages 12 to 18, an opportunity to use the weight
equipment safely. This will take place on Thursday, May 2nd at 4:00pm. - Boxing: The Boxing portion of this program will be run by volunteer, Brian Bell. Brian was trained by Coach Pablo Ramos beginning in the Natick and Framingham area. Brian is a boxing coach with over 52 years of coaching and boxing experience. He is
a Milford resident and has volunteered in running the boxing program at the youth center in the past. The goal of the program is to teach self-confidence, respect, and discipline, with an incredible physical work out. His personal hope is for the students to see their progression from their hard work in the program! This program will run on Thursdays, on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and the 30th from 3:15-4:00 pm. - New Human Fitness: Instructor, Coach Allie, will focus on various fitness skills. This program will run on Fridays in May on
the 3rd, 17th and the 31st, beginning at 3:30! Allie is a New Human Trainer who specializes in Yoga. She is an expert who is qualified to teach the most effective yoga poses. This Program would not have been possible without the collaboration of the Milford Regional Medical Center. - MYC Cooking Program: On Monday, May 6th at 3:45pm, returning volunteer, Pamela Goldman. Together with the kids, they will make lasagna! If your child has any food allergies, please advise them not to participate. Registered after-school members must sign up and commit to this program! Spots are limited so please contact Joanna at jabrantes@milfordma.gov to reserve your child’s spot by March 28 th at 1:00pm.
- MYC Youth Council: The MYC Youth Council is a leadership and community service-based group, created to encourage MYC members to help make a difference in the community through facilitating several youth community events as well as taking part in volunteer opportunities! Registered after-school members, ranging in ages from 8-18, can join this program and commit to making changes together! This month the Youth Council will be held on Tuesdays in May,
on the 7th and the 28th at 4:00pm. - Sewing: This month, on Wednesday, May 8th, at 4:00pm, volunteer Vicki will run the sewing program. This month, the children will learn how to make an embroidery pattern! Spots are limited so please contact Joanna at jabrantes@milfordma.gov to reserve your child’s spot by Monday May 6th by 1:00pm.
- Soccer: We will have an organized game of soccer on Wednesday, May 22nd from 3:30-4:30. Kids can sign up when they arrive after school.
- Putting Green Challenge: We are excited to have this program back in the same month as our Golf Tournament Fundraiser! Part-time staff will teach basic putting skills and golf basics on Wednesdays, May 8th and 29th at 3:30. Spots are limited, if you’re interested, email Joanna at jabrantes@milfordma.gov!
- Milford TV: Milford TV will be running their program, thanks to the new staff member, Dominque. They give the students an
opportunity to learn videography skills along with creating their own multi-media projects! This program will run on Thursdays, May 9th and the 23rd from 3:30-4:30 pm. You must sign up in advance (limited space)! Please contact our Program Coordinator at jabrantes@milfordma.gov. - Life Skills: This is our second year running the Life Skills program in honor of our former board member Ron Taylor. The Life Skills program is going to teach our youth skills that can carry them into their adult years. This month, on Monday, May 13th at 4:30pm, husband, dad, and MYC volunteer, David Abrantes, will return to run another Life Skills Program. David will teach the kids techniques for public speaking and he will incorporate Improv! We have limited space, so please contact Joanna Abrantes, the Program Coordinator at jabrantes@milfordma.gov or at 508-473-1756 no later than Thursday, May 8th at 1:00 pm to reserve your child’s spot.
- Fishing: The fishing program is run by longtime volunteer, Dr. Bob Gilmore. On Mondays the 13th and the 20th and on Wednesdays the 15th and the 22nd at 4:00, students will have the opportunity to walk down to Fino field with an MYC staff, to learn bait and fishing techniques with no prior experience needed! It will be a catch and release class and will take place, weather permitting.
- Nutrition: In collaboration with the Milford Regional Medical Center and Nadine from ConnectEd & Inspired the MYC will run the Nutrition program Tuesday, May 14th at 3:30pm. The children will make their own ice cream! We have had a huge interest in this class in the past and hope to maintain its popularity by keeping it fun yet educational, while enforcing healthy eating habits. Spots are limited so please contact Joanna at jabrantes@milfordma.gov to reserve your child’s spot Friday, May 3rd, by 1:00pm.
- Volleyball: We will have an organized game of volleyball on Wednesday, May 15th from 3:30-4:30 pm. Kids can sign up when they arrive after school.
- Social Emotional Learning: This program is designed to help our youth learn about and manage their emotions and interactions with others and build the core social and emotional competencies, including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills need to succeed in school and thrive in life. This program is made possible by a $6,400 Community Grant from the Greater Milford Community Health Network (CHNA-6). Sign-up is required. The Social Emotional Learning program will be held on Monday, May 20th at 4:15pm.
- Gardening: Youth will be able to make a gardening themed craft on Tuesday, May 21st at 3:30 pm thanks to our amazing
volunteer, Phyllis Foley, from the Greenleaf Gardening Club! Phyllis has a message to the families of Milford Youth Center members: “The Junior Gardener Program meets monthly at the Center and is one of the center’s activities. Sponsored by the Greenleaf Garden Club of Milford, the goals are to introduce kids to the joys of gardening, to explore the environment and to create art using plants and materials from nature. It is open to all youth center members.” This month the kids will help to plant vegetables in our indoor GardenTower! - Arts & Crafts: Arts & Crafts, led by Program Coordinator, Joanna Abrantes, 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 run on Tuesday, May 28th from 3:30-4:15 pm.
- S.T.E.A.M: Our S.T.E.A.M program will run on Wednesday May 29th at 4:00pm, where After School Members will be given the opportunity to do a hands-on activity involving science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our new curriculum funded by a grant from the Milford Cultural Council! This month the children will use specific ingredients to make toothpaste and learn what each ingredient is specifically important for! Reserve your child’s spot by Friday, May 24th at 1:00pm.
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 (10 am on vacation weeks and half days). Any forms received after 1PM (or 10 am on vacation weeks), will be allowed to attend the following program day, if completed correctly. This is to ensure we have adequate time to process registrations.
- The 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 28, 2022, 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:
Respiratory Virus Guidelines
On March 25, 2024 we were informed that Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently updated their guidance:
Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses | Mass.gov
This guidance aligns with recent CDC updated recommendations for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 which were released on March 1, 2024
This guidance is for respiratory viruses like Influenza, RSV, and Covid-19 as they share similar transmission methods, symptoms, and prevention strategies. This unified approach aims to simplify recommendation and address common risks more effectively.
The new CDC guidance for respiratory virus:
- When you have ANY respiratory virus– stay home and away from others if you have respiratory virus symptoms. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.
- Return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
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- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
- When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner, air, hygiene, masks, physical, distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.
- Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
HOW HAS ISOLATION GUIDANCE CHANGED?
The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.
It is important to note that the guidance doesn’t end with staying home and away from others when sick. The guidance encourages added precaution over the next five days after time at home, away from others, is over. Since some people remain contagious beyond the “stay-at-home” period, a period of added precaution using prevention strategies, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.
We considered multiple options for adjusting isolation guidance at different lengths of time. In addition to fewer people getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and having better tools to fight serious illness, CDC considered other factors such as the personal and societal costs of extended isolation as well as the timing of when people are most likely to spread the virus (a few days before and after symptoms appear). The updated guidance is easy-to-understand, practical, and evidence-based, as well as more aligned with long-standing recommendations for other respiratory illnesses.
In addition to CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance, there are several special considerations for people with certain risk factors for severe illness, including older adults, young children, people with weakened immune systems, people with disabilities, and pregnant people.
To read the complete report, click here. Also, the CDC has created an information FAQ page for the new respiratory guidance, available here