Community Day at Ephrata Cloister

In the 1700s Historic Ephrata Cloister was the town of Ephrata.  Like any small village, it had craftsmen who wove cloth, baked bread, and built houses.  Ephrata also featured a Printing Office to produce books and a doctor to care for the sick.  These and other 18^th-century activities come to life as part of Community Day, an interactive educational program offered on April 14^th from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.  The program is open to public and private schools, as well as Homeschoolers.  The admission to the program is $7.00 for students, and $9 for chaperones.  Advanced reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the Ephrata Cloister at (717)733-6600.

This hands-on program offers at least a dozen different stations around the historic site, each stop offering a 10 to 15-minute look at things such as lighting, clothing, and writing in the 1700s community.  Students will be free to travel in small groups with chaperones in any order to the areas of their interest.  A visit to the Bakery will show that bread did not always come in plastic wrappers, and the carpenter can explain that that not all roof shingles are made the same.  A visit to the doctor may make you glad for modern medicine, or a visit to the schoolhouse will show you how to write on stone!

Historic Ephrata Cloister is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in partnership with the Ephrata Cloister Associates.  More information can be found at www.EphrataCloister.org.  Persons with disabilities who need special assistance or accommodation should call in advance to discuss their needs.  Pennsylvania TDD relay service is available at (800) 654-5984.