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
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 Ephrata1732@gmail.com.
Ephrata Cloister Student Historians Program for Students
Are you a middle school or high school student passionate about history? Join our after-school Student Historians Program and step back into the 18th century!
This after-school program invites students to explore the world of 18th-century Pennsylvania through hands-on learning, going behind the scenes of a museum, and public history. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, communication skills, and historical research, while gaining experience for a resume or college application at real events like our dramatic Lantern Tours and the statewide Charter Day celebration! This program is for students who are part of a history club, curious about the past, or just want to have fun and make friends after school. This is a chance to step into history in an exciting, creative way.
Sessions begin on Wednesday, October 7th. Every session covers a different topic for students to explore and learn. Topics include trying out historic trades/crafts, looking at artifacts in collections, and many more! The fall session concludes with 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 week of December. Sessions continue mid-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 12–18. No prior experience is needed: just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn! For the 2026–2027 season, sessions will be held weekly on Wednesdays (3:30–4:45 p.m.) from October through November, culminating in Lantern Tours on December 26 to 29, 2026. Beginning January 13, 2027, the program will run every Wednesday (3:30–4:45 p.m.) through March, ending with Charter Day on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
For more information, a detailed schedule, or to enroll in the 2026–2027 program, please contact Sophie Walters, Museum Educator II, 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 Ephrata1732@gmail.com.
Volunteer of the Year 2026 – Bill Miller
