Youth Tour: The Trip of a Lifetime
Get ready to pack your bags! You could join 2,000 teens from across the U.S. to make new friends and share experiences in Washington, D.C., all paid for by your electric co-op.
From museums and memorials to the majestic U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, there’s something for everyone in Washington, D.C. You’ll visit Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Institution and more. Activities include a Potomac River boat cruise with dinner and dancing, meeting congressional representatives, and learning about rural electrification and electric cooperatives. Youth Tour is jam-packed with unforgettable sights and memories in the making. It’s sure to be the trip of a lifetime.
Youth Tour Facts
What: An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to tour national historic sites, experience cultural diversity, meet U.S. congressional representatives, and learn about electric cooperatives and the energy industry
Who: High school students and their peers from around the nation who have won contests at their local electric cooperatives
Why: Because then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, an advocate of rural electrification, suggested in 1957 “sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents”
Where: Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
When: 7 days in June
How: Students who win their electric co-op’s contest earn sponsorship valued at more than $4,500 for the trip, organized by Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Want To Go?
Local electric cooperatives have individual methods for selecting Youth Tour winners. Many hold annual competitions such as essay, speech or video contests. Each winner’s travel expenses—valued at more than $4,500—are covered by her or his co-op and other sponsors, and coordinators at Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association handle all the arrangements.
If you’re a Texas high school student, discover how to apply for the next Youth Tour. Start by finding your cooperative here.
I made some great friends who I still keep in contact with, and they’re some of the best people I’ve ever met. Jessy Villagomez Big Country EC 2018 Youth Tour Delegate