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 18th-century activities will come to life as part of Community Day, an interactive educational program set for Friday, Oct. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is open to public and private schools, as well as homeschoolers. There will be an admission fee, with separate prices for students and for chaperones. Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the Ephrata Cloister at 717-733-6600.

The hands-on program will offer at least a dozen different stations around the historic site, with 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 their chaperones in any order through the various interpretive stations.

A visit to the bakery will show that bread did not always come in plastic wrappers, and the carpenter will explain that that not all roof shingles are made the same. Students will also visit the doctor and the schoolhouse, where they will learn how to write on stone.

Historic Ephrata Cloister is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with support from the Ephrata Cloister Associates. For more information, visit http://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.