Explore the lives of Amish children and teens. After the infamous Amish reality TV series “Amish in the City,” the word “rumspringa” entered the English language. This is the “running around” period when young Amish teens may enjoy their time of being young without the rigors imposed by the church and family. But soon, each youth must make a decision on whether to join the church and through adult baptism, either become Amish, or choose life in the “outside world” apart from family and community. This tour aims to set the record straight directly from a member of the Amish community. It’s as real as it gets!

Amish Interaction Spend time with a member of the local Amish community, normally at his Amish farmstead, who describes what it is like growing up as an Amish child, what happens after the eighth grade, and what “rumspringa” is really like for Amish teenagers. There’s plenty of time for open and honest questions and answers from the “horse’s mouth,” so to speak.

Your guided tour of the farmlands will also include a stop at another local Amish business, since not all Amish young people become farmers. We will also drive by several Amish one-room schools, where we take the opportunity to discuss Amish education.

Learning at Home & At School Enter Lancaster County’s only officially designated “Heritage Site” Amish house for a look at growing up Amish from a child’s point of view. Included are Amish schoolroom games for all to play, followed by a tour of the nine-room Amish Country Homestead to examine Plain clothing and living without electricity.

“Jacob’s Choice” This Amish Experience Theater production explores both the history of the Amish and the life of a teenage Amish boy torn between his Amish family and the allure of the modern world. Dramatically told on five screens all around you, the Disney-esque special effects production is a unique blending of entertainment and education that takes you into the heart and soul of what it means to be Amish.