For Children

Learn & Play at Our Children’s Museum

Landis Valley offers your child many opportunities to learn about the history of the everyday people who lived in Lancaster County during the 18th and 19th centuries. Designed around rotating themes, our programs introduce kids to farm children, young apprentices, tavern-keeping families, men who drove Conestoga Wagons and practiced their trades, and women who made clothing and grew food for their families. They’ll also learn how to have fun in an age where imagination and ingenuity turn simple objects into toys and tools.

Education Department Events 2025 / 2026

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Celebrating our 100^th Anniversary: “Christmas with the Landis Children”

Saturday December 20^th9:00-12:00 or 1:00-4:00 Ages 5-11

What was it like to celebrate Christmas as a child in the late 1800s? We will explore holiday activities that George, Henry, and Nettie Mae may have enjoyed in Lancaster, Pa.

Including:

>Sewing a cat stuffed animal. Based on a pattern from a previous exhibit, “Color My World.”

>Designing both Scherenschnitte and pin prick Christmas Cards.

>Creating Christmas ornaments, including mini paper lanterns and paper cornucopias.

Cost:

$50.00 per session

$45.00 per session for LVA Members

Snack included.

Registrations required.

Registration starts on Wednesday, November 19th.

Contact Sheri Brown

Children’s Program Coordinator

c-sherbrow@pa.gov or 717-569-0401 x228

Home School Classes 2026

To celebrate America’s 250^th anniversary as a country, we will present our “Yankee Doodle Dandy” class series.

Cost; $30.00 per class

February 6^th:“Guess who is coming to dinner?”

9:00 – 12:30 Ages 5-11

Focusing on colonial cooking techniques and recipes, this class culminates in a delicious meal cooked in our replica colonial tavern.

February 20^th:“Counting Stitches with Betsy Ross”

9:00 -12:30 Ages 7-11

While practicing basic stitches, students will create a pin cushion. An additional sewing project will be either a pocket or a market bag, both perfect for colonial storage.

March 6th “Once Upon a Childhood”

9-12:30 Ages 5-11

Step back in time to experience how colonial children lived. Through interactive chores, games, and toys, learn how they lived a simple life. Includes two “make and take” toys.

Reservations required.

Contact Sheri Brown

Children’s Program Coordinator

c-sherbrow@pa.gov or 717-569-0401 x228

Reservations start Wednesday, November 19^th.

Enroll in Our Museum Camps!

Camp Ages 5-11

Celebrating our 100^th Anniversary

Children’s Winter Camp

Christmas with the Landis Children

Saturday, December 20^th9:00-12:00 or 1:00-4:00 Ages 5-11

What was it like to celebrate Christmas as a child in the late 1800s? We will explore holiday activities that George, Henry, and Nettie Mae may have enjoyed in Lancaster, Pa.

Including:

>Sewing a cat stuffed animal. Based on a pattern from a previous exhibit, “Color My World.”

>Designing both Scherenschnitte and pin prick Christmas Cards.

>Creating Christmas ornaments, including mini paper lanterns and paper cornucopias.

Registration is limited to 20 campers per session. Registration is required.

Contact our education department for more information

Interactive Hands-On History

Every family loves finding creative, fun, and educational ways to entertain their children, and we have just the thing! Our coloring and activity sheets are FREE for you to download and enjoy. Click on the images to download a PDF, print as many as you’d like, and have fun coloring while exploring life in the past with your children.

Visit our Children’s Museum Today!

Landis Valley’s homeschool program is a great way to supplement your history lesson, with classes that meet the PA State & Homeschool Educational Standards. Held every Friday from February through mid-March, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the program consists of three individual classes, each with a different topic.

Field Trips

With room to roam, friendly staff, lots of farm animals, and interactive options like workshops and wagon rides, Landis Valley is the perfect location for your next field trip. Reservations are taken year-round. Due to their incredible popularity, we strongly suggest making your plans three (3) months in advance.

We recommend making reservations at least 3 months in advance, especially if you are interested in one of our Hands-on Workshops.

No, however, payment in full is due upon arrival by one check or credit card.

There is a picnic grove area for use.

Drinks and light snacks are available for purchase at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum Store.

Yes, and we encourage children to visit the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum Store.

Our site and workshops are open and running rain or shine.

During the peak season, self-guided tours are available with interpreters or craftspeople present in the buildings. In the off-season, a guided tour can be scheduled.

We recommend one chaperone for every ten students. We allow one free chaperone per ten students. All additional chaperones will pay an admission fee and a workshop fee if applicable.

Yes, there is an additional fee for students and chaperones.

You will use the front entrance, located near the cemetery, to enter the Visitor Center. When you check in you will need the accurate count of students and chaperones and payment in full.

To make a reservation, please call us at 717-569-0401 ext. 228 or…

Contact Sheri Brown, Education Coordinator

Landis Valley School Workshops

The educational hands-on workshops at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum offer something for every student.

Workshops run 45 minutes and are available Wednesdays through Fridays during the spring and fall.

They may be scheduled at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30. Workshops are geared to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 32 students.

For more information or to make a reservation:

Please Contact Sheri Brown, Education Coordinator

One-Room Schoolhouse

Send your class to school 1890’s style. Our authentic one-room Maple Grove schoolhouse was relocated from a local site. A schoolmarm in period costume will give your students lessons from the late 1800’s in subjects such as arithmetic, spelling, and reading. This workshop is geared to children in 2nd through 8th grades.

A Farm Child’s Sampler

This workshop allows students to explore the chores and activities that would have filled their lives in the early 1800’s. Students can try their hand at things such as flint and steel, quilting, roping a bed, and period toys and games. Recommended for grades 1 through 6.

Pennsylvania German Folk Art

Students are given the opportunity to learn about and explore one of two folk art traditions. Teachers may choose Fraktur or Reverse Glass Painting activities. This workshop is recommended for students in grades 4 through 12.

Scouts

Bring your pack or troop to Landis Valley for a great day of learning and fun that satisfies their adventure requirements at the same time. Choose from any of the following workshops or contact our Education Department to craft a workshop of your own:

From Wool to Weaving

Scouts will hear the story of wool processing, 1800’s style, from the sheep to fabric. They will then have an opportunity to try carding fresh wool, spinning wool into yarn, and weaving on a loom. Scouts can visit and learn about several types of sheep and will be given some wool and instructions to build their own drop spindle.

Length of workshop: 45 minutes
Number of scouts: 10-25
Recommended for ages: 8-14