2009 Youth Tour - June 14 - 18

(2010 Youth Tour - June 13-17)

Every year the electric cooperatives afford young people an opportunity to experience Washington, DC, in a way they have never experienced it before on the Rural Electric Youth Tour.

Yearly, more than 1,400 young people and chaperons from all across the country gather in Washington, D.C. in June. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the local electric cooperatives sponsor this tour. The Va. Md. & Del. Association of Electric Cooperatives or statewide office coordinates the tour.

Youth have the opportunity to see their government in action. They visit with their Congressman and Senator, tour some Washington, DC landmarks, enjoy a dinner/dance, a dance cruise on the Potomac River, and perhaps a play at one of Washington’s many theaters. They also attend several educational seminars during the tour. The also establish lasting relationships with youth from all over the country for some 37 states that participate in the Youth Tour program.

The tour not only shows the young people their government in action, but they learn about their local electric cooperative and how they are involved in their communities and in the workings of their government.

The program objective of the Rural Electric Youth Tour is for these young people to carry home with them a better understanding of their government and the importance of being involved in government. Also, it allows them to understand the important role that their local electric cooperative plays in their communities and to their families.

Each participating electric cooperative selects the youths each year using varying criteria. All expenses are paid by the sponsoring electric cooperative.

Participating Electric Cooperatives in Virginia Maryland & Delaware include

	A & N Electric Cooperative
	Choptank Electric Cooperative
	Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative
	Delaware Electric Cooperative
	Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative
	Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
	Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative
	Prince George Electric Cooperative
	Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
	Southside Electric Cooperative
	Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative For further information on the Youth Tour contact your local electric cooperative.

What Is Expected of Youth Tour Participants

For those students chosen by their local electric cooperative to to participate in the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) & NRECA’s Youth Tour, please click here to review the following page of information on what is expected of all Youth Tour participants.

For more helpful information for parents and participants, please click here.