New Paltz Youth Program: The After-School Powerhouse Serving 622 Kids a Year

Open since 1989 at 220 Main Street, the Youth Center logged nearly 300,000 total sign-ins and provides more tutoring to a school district than any other community program in New York State.

Walk into the New Paltz Youth Center on any weekday afternoon and you'll find teenagers making tacos, building waffles, hiking Mohonk, bowling in Poughkeepsie, or just hanging out in a safe, supervised space. It's one of those quietly extraordinary institutions that most visitors to New Paltz never hear about — but every local family with a middle-schooler knows by heart.

By the Numbers

The New Paltz Youth Program's statistics tell the story:

9,145 sign-ins in 2025 alone, serving nearly 622 different kids
298,471 total sign-ins since tracking began in January 1996
1,247 classroom tutoring sessions at the middle school — more than any other community program in New York State
Open Monday–Friday, 12–8 PM at 220 Main Street

What a Typical Week Looks Like

The Youth Center runs a structured weekly rhythm that keeps kids engaged and fed:

Mohonk Mondays — Hiking, fish-feeding, and a food donation courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House
Taco Tuesdays — Meat and veggie options, made together
Waffle Wednesdays — Homemade Belgian waffles with all the toppings, plus free jiu-jitsu at Gambit in New Paltz Plaza
Empanada Thursdays — Made from scratch with the kids
BBQ Fridays — Burgers, hot dogs, bouncy house, and karaoke at 3:30 PM (always the busiest day)

Beyond the food, there's bowling at Spins for $5, trips to the Ulster County Fair, hikes at Brownstone Adventure Water Park in Connecticut, and movie nights at New Paltz Cinemas — all free or low-cost.

The C.A.F.E. Program

During school hours, the Youth Program runs C.A.F.E. (Cafeteria Alternative For Everyone) at New Paltz High School — a supervised alternative to the regular cafeteria during lunch periods. After a three-year COVID hiatus, the program is back, offering a comfortable space plus supervised outdoor recreation time.

Who Runs It

The staff includes a full-time licensed social worker, mental health counselors, and certified teachers, supported by graduate and undergraduate interns from Fordham, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY New Paltz, Marist, and other universities. Sixth graders are required to stay at the center until departure; seventh through twelfth graders come and go freely unless a parent says otherwise.

How to Get Involved

The Youth Center is a program of the Town of New Paltz. Donations, volunteer mentors, and university interns are always welcome. Email to join the weekly events mailing list.

Address: 220 Main Street, New Paltz, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday, 12–8 PM
Phone: (845) 255-5140
Email: npyp@townofnewpaltzny.gov
Web: newpaltzyouthprogram.org

If you know a middle or high schooler in New Paltz, this is the place. No cost, no judgment, just a safe space with real food, real activities, and adults who genuinely care whether you show up.

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