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MYC After School Program: October 2026 Updates!

We cannot believe we are in month two of our After School Program, with over 200 registered members so far! On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, we will be open for the registered after-school members from 1:00-6:00pm due to the school’s early dismissal. On Monday, October 12, 2026, the MYC is closed in observance of Indigenous People’s Day. On Friday, October 30, 2025, there will be no after school program so we can prepare for the MYC Fright Night and Kid’s Zone event in the evening from 6:00-9:00pm!

The Center will be getting work done on the building, so you will see construction materials and workers inside and outside of the building. We advise you to park across the street and/or the road on the allowed side. There will be an area fenced off in the parking lot across the street as well for construction materials, but one half will be left for MYC/Town parking!

For more information about programs see below:

  • Open Gym, Game Room, and Free Dinner & Snack: Open gym and the game room (will have limited availability this month due to Holiday preparation) 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 /lounge area. At 4:00, when we have the capacity, we use the back court for other sports such as soccer, volleyball and football and only allow basketball on the front court to ensure a variety of sports be played during the after-school program. High-Schoolers only! Every day, calendar permitting, from 5-5:50 you will have access to the back court to run basketball games! You must register for the school year if you haven’t already!
  • Quiet Zone: Monday through Thursday beginning at 3:00, use this quiet time to get your homework done, play a board game, read a book or just get away for a little bit in a quieter space! Sign up on the day of, calendar permitting.
  • Weight Room: This program will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3:30-5:00, calendar permitting. Youth can follow circuit weight training, free weights, a personal regimen or request assistance and guidance. They are not required to spend the full 2 hours. They can stay until their routine is complete. High-Schoolers, you will have access to the weight room every day after school until 5:30, calendar permitting.
  • Boxing: The Boxing program is 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. David Abrantes will also be a part of this weekly program, calendar permitting. David will assist Brian in all aspects of this program. The goal of the program is to teach self-confidence, respect, and discipline with 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, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22 and 10/29 beginning at 3:15.
  • BINGO: Our very popular BINGO program will be on Friday, 10/2 at 3:30. We will be giving after-school members the opportunity to win some fun prizes!
  • Otis the Certified Therapy Dog: Friday, 10/2 at 3:45 Lauren and Otis, the certified therapy dog, will be here to visit and hang out. As part of the registration form, you, the parent/guardian, marked off whether your child could hang out with Otis. If you checked off “no”, your child will not be allowed to. When Otis is on site, we will have a daily list of the children in attendance, along with a column of whether the child is allowed to interact. This is how we can keep track of this program.
  • MYC Cooking Program: Join volunteer Pam in the cooking program and make pasta, meatballs and garlic bread! This program will take place on Monday, 10/5 at 3:45.  If your child has food allergies, we do advise that they do not sign up for this program for the safety of your child. This program has limited spots so please email mycregistrations@townofmilford.com to sign up for your child to reserve your child’s spot!
  • Fishing: The fishing program is run by a longtime volunteer, Dr. Bob Gilmore.  This program will run on the following Mondays and Wednesdays; On 10/5, 10/7, and 10/14, 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.
  • Cornerstone Intergenerational Program: This month, join the residents for and build, paint and decorate pumpkin houses on Wednesday, 10/1 at 3:15! All are welcome the kids can sign up the day of if spots are available, or before with at mycregistrations@townofmilford.com .  Cornerstone at 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. Leah Martel, the Enriched Life Director and Alycia McCallum, the Director of Community Relations, are thrilled to continue this relationship with the Milford Youth Center to create an intergenerational partnership between our residents and the youth within the town of Milford! “They communicated that “we love to give back to our associates, our community, and most importantly, our residents!
  • Soccer: On Thursday, 10/7 at 4:00, children can sign up on the day of the program, or in advance to play a full, 2-net, 2 goalie game of indoor soccer! For registered after-school members only!
  • Social Emotional Learning: This month we will begin a new curriculum through THINKGIVE, an organization that partners with out-of-school time programs to help students build essential social emotional skills. Our first program we will do an introduction to this amazing program, icebreaker, then we will focus on “Giving to Yourself: Physical Care. We will do this through games, journaling, and hands-on activities under the curriculum. Please email mycregistrations@townofmilford.com to sign up your child by 10/7 by 1:00. The Social Emotional Learning program will be held on Thursdays, 10/8 and 10/22 at 3:30. The Soar with Wings curriculum is another curriculum we will incorporate in the later months. 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 needed 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.
  • MYC Halloween Trivia: is scheduled for Friday, 10/9 at 3:30. Staff will read off appropriate age questions and the team with the most correct answers will win a prize! We will play a few games while time allows!
  • 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! Some things we plan to do this year are volunteering during the MYC Fright Night and the MYC Thanksgiving Dinner. Decide on collections for the needy, walk in the Veterans Day Parade, volunteer at the MHS Craft fair and so much more! The Youth Council will be held on Tuesdays, 10/13 and 10/27 at 3:30.  If interested in participating, please email mycregistrations@townofmilford.com.
  • Sewing: Join volunteer, Vicki, who will lead a sewing program on Wednesday, 10/14, beginning at 3:30. This month they will be making a scarecrow stuffy! Spots are limited so please email mycregistrations@townofmilford.com to reserve your child’s spot no later than 10/9 by 1:00.
  • Mindful Movement: Join returning volunteer, Becky! She will focus on teaching you how to stretch properly as part of a daily routine, for before and after a workout, dance class or sports. She hopes to add a short dance routine at the end of the class as well, if the participants choose to do so, and if time permits! This program will run on Wednesday, 10/14 at 4:00. Spots are limited! Sign up the day of the program or in advance at mycregistrations@townofmilford.com
  • Think Outside the Box Thursday: This month, the kids will start with an ice breaker, share with the “get to know you” game and figure out just home many numbers are on the page; they must “think outside the box”! It will be held on Thursday, 10/15 at 3:30. This will allow the youth to get creative, solve puzzles, finish half drawn pictures, think quickly to answer riddles, answer “would you rather” questions, and so much more, all while “Thinking outside the box!”
  • Dance: New this month! Join Miss Abbie in her Hip Hop class on Friday, 10/16 at 3:30. Miss Abbie has been dancing since she was 2 years old and currently teaches at the Milford Dance Center. Miss Abbie says, “My teaching style is about fostering a fun and no pressure environment where i can encourage the kids and nurture a love for dance and music, the same way that my teachers did for me – while also providing a proper and healthy dance education!” Join her every month at the Milford Youth Center and learn a short dance routine in a new style of dance! This Program would not be possible without the collaboration with the UMass Memorial – Milford Regional.
  • MYC Cinema: Join us for MYC Cinema on Monday, 10/19, at 3:30 to watch a Halloween-themed movie! You can sign up on the day of to participate!
  • Life Skills: This month’s program will be run by David! Join him in his Woodworking Life Skills, learn about tools, how to use them properly, all while building a very cool bird house-picnic table! This program is scheduled for Tuesday, 10/20, at 4:00. Reserve your child’s spot by 10/16 by 1:00! It will be our fourth 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.  If you are interested in registering your child, call the center or email mycregistrations@townofmilford.com.
  • Volleyball: Wednesday 10/21 at 4:00, children can sign up the day of the program, or in advance. For registered after-school members only!
  • Nail Salon: On Friday, 10/23 at 3:00 a staff member will be doing some fun fall and Halloween nail designs! Kids can sign up the day of the program!
  • Nutrition: Join Carly of FitFunCarly on Friday, 10/23 at 3:30! This month on the menu, vanilla yogurt mug cake! If your child has food allergies, please email Joanna at jabrantes@milfordma.gov for specific food ingredients. With the registered after-school members who have signed up in advance for this program, she will help them to prepare ingredients in a fun manner to show that healthy snacks can be not only easy but tasty too. Sign up your child by 10/19 by 1:00 at mycregistrations@townofmilford.com.  This Program would not be possible without the collaboration with the UMass Memorial – Milford Regional.
  • Gardening: On Monday, 10/26 at 3:30pm, kids will do apple stamping and learn about the different apples of New England, thanks to our amazing volunteers, Phyllis Foley and Dee Burley, from Green Leaf Gardening! Phyllis has a message to the families of Milford Youth Center members: “The Junior Gardener Program meets monthly at the youth center and is one of the center’s activities. It is 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.” We are also continuing our weekly Gardening Club! If gardening really interests you and you would like to meet weekly for about 15-20 minutes to help tend to the MYC plants, indoor garden tower or outdoor garden beds, depending on the season, show up on Tuesdays at 3:30!
  • Milford TV: Milford TV will be running their program, thanks to the returning staff, Dominque and Chase. They give the students an opportunity to learn videography skills along with creating their own multi-media projects! This program will run on Thursday, 10/29 at 3:30. You must sign up in advance (limited space) Please send an email to mycregistrations@townofmilford.com  by 10/23 at 1:00pm to sign your child up!
  • MYC Presents: A Night of Horror Classics: On Friday, 10/30, 2026, from 6-9 PM join us for some fun activities and a haunted house….if you dare! For more information, click here!

Thank you to UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional Medical Center for collaborating on our wellness and fitness programming. 

For online registration forms click below: 

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 to enter. If key tags are lost, the Youth Center will charge $1.00 for a replacement. Members will also be able to use our washer and dryer, free of charge, during our hours of operation. Members must communicate with MYC staff to assist with this process. 

For the food programs that we offer please see below: 

  1. The Youth Center offers a free snack and dinner program, due to the collaboration of CACFP, Hockomock Area YMCA, and the Milford School Food & Nutrition Services department. Please click here for our weekly menu! Please see below for the USDA Non-Discrimination Statement.

2. The Milford Youth Center is excited to continue distributing weekend food bags starting in October, the start date will be confirmed in September.  The MYC has partnered with Spoonful’s, formerly, Lovin’ Spoonful’s and their food rescue mission. We are thrilled to continue our community connection with Seven Hills Aspire of Hopedale. Together, with their community-based day program that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we will continue our weekly food distribution with their help. Members of their program will volunteer weekly to distribute and pack the food according to our weekly signups. Please let us know if you would like to get free groceries by completing the link here.  Please only sign up and register if you can pick up the bags on Fridays, before 6pm when we close! We will coordinate pick up times with all families that sign up. Space is limited! For more about Spoonful’s, click here! 

Basic information about the After School Program: 

  • Registered youth may arrive at or depart from the program at any time during their time at the program. 
  • 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. 
  • For video of rules, produced by Milford TV click here (video was made prior to mask optional, just FYI). 
  • For more information on the programs, click here. 

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 recommendations and address common risks more effectively.  The CDC and MASS.GOV guidance for respiratory virus: Protect yourself and others from getting sick | Mass.gov 

  • Get vaccinated: Get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19, and RSV (if eligible) to help prevent illness and severe disease. Stay up to date with recommended doses for the best protection. Visit vaccine information for the general public to learn about all vaccine recommendations for adults and youth and to get answers to common questions. 
Flu  COVID-19  RSV 
Everyone 6 months & older should receive a yearly flu vaccine.  Everyone 6 months & older should receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine.  Everyone 60 years old and over should consider an RSV vaccine and monoclonal antibody products are available to protect infants and young children from severe RSV. 

 

  • Wash your hands: Keeping your hands clean is the best way to get rid of germs and stop the spread of germs to others. You can get germs on your hands by simply touching a doorknob, pressing an elevator button, grabbing a pole on public transit, or shaking hands. Once these germs are on your hands, touching your mouth or nose to eat, sneeze, or cough or touching your eyes can make you sick. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. 
  • Cover your cough or sneeze: Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.  Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands. 
  • Get tested:  Learn to recognize signs and symptoms of respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV. If you have those symptoms, get tested. 

Find a test near you: 

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. 

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement: 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

  • Mail:
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture 
    • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
    • 1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
    • Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 
  • Fax: (202) 690-7442; or 
  • Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.