Get Involved
Our warm and friendly spirit at the Ephrata Cloister began with the charity and welcoming efforts of the 18th century Sisters, Brothers, and Householder community members. It continues today where their history lives on because of our volunteers.
We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities:
- Tour Guides
- Museum Store Assistants
- School Program & Historic Demonstrators
- Visitor Services / Front Desk Associates
- Chorus Members
- Landscape/Gardeners (Check out the Butterfly Garden)
To learn more about volunteering at the Historic Ephrata Cloister contact us at 717-733-6600 or Ephrata1732@gmail.com.
For inquiries into our internship program, please direct correspondence to Elizabeth Bertheaud.
Ephrata Cloister Student Historian Program for Teens
Are you a high school student passionate about history and theater? Join our after-school Student Historian Program and step back into the 18th century! This unique program introduces teens to early American history, trades, and crafts, while also building skills in historical interpretation, public speaking, and performance.
Student Historians help bring history to life during our signature Lantern Tours — an evening theatrical production where visitors experience Ephrata Cloister by lantern light through dramatic scenes and guided storytelling. This special event takes place the last weekend of December and the first weekend of January. Students also gain hands-on experience interpreting and demonstrating a variety of 18th-century trades and have opportunities to assist with special events at the site year-round.
Sessions continue January through March, concluding with Charter Day — a statewide celebration of Pennsylvania’s founding, when students showcase their skills through live demonstrations and interpretation for visitors.
The program is open to high school students ages 14–18. For the 2025–2026 season, sessions will be held weekly on Thursdays (3:30–4:45 p.m.) from September through December, culminating in Lantern Tours on December 26–27, 2025, and January 2–3, 2026. Beginning in January, the program will run every Thursday (3:30–4:45 p.m.) through March, ending with Charter Day on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
For more information, a detailed schedule, or to enroll in the 2025–2026 program, please contact Sophie Walters, Museum Educator I, at sowalters@pa.gov.
Corporate and Non-Profit Organizations
Corporate and Non-Profit Organizations are welcome to contact us. We provide opportunities for corporate volunteer teams, return to work programs, and serve as a work site for adults with special needs. Please contact Elizabeth Bertheaud at ebertheaud@pa.gov
Volunteer of the Year 2024 – Sue Fisher
