Washington D.C. Youth Tour

The annual Youth Tour to Washington program is sponsored by NRECA, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and brings hundreds of high school juniors to Washington, D.C. each year for an exciting week of educational activities, tours and fun. Each year, Peace River Electric Cooperative sponsors four students, from High School's serving students in our 10 county service territory, for an expense-paid trip. The participants are chosen during an annual essay contest in the spring of each year, coordinated through the local high schools. For more information about the Youth Tour Program contact our Marketing and Communications Department.

HISTORY OF THE YOUTH TOUR ESSAY CONTEST
The purpose of the Youth Tour Program is to educate young people on all aspects of rural electrification in order to promote a better understanding of the value of rural electric cooperatives; to provide an opportunity for young people to visit monuments, government buildings and cooperative-related organizations in order to become familiar with the historical and political environment of the Nation's Capitol; and to provide an opportunity for young people to meet elected officials in order to better understand how their federal government works.

YOUTH TOUR TO WASHINGTON
The Annual Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington is held each year during June. After arriving in Washington, touring students have very little time to rest - there's too much to do! Some of the places students tour include:

The White House
The U.S. Capitol
The U.S. Supreme Court
National Cathedral
Washington Memorial
The FBI Building
Mount Vernon
Jefferson Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Arlington National Cemetery

All of the time is not spent touring, either. Students are given an opportunity to meet Florida's Congressional Delegation and chat with their elected officials, usually over a meal in the Senate or House office complex.

NRECA
The students spend time at the Headquarters of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association where they gain an insider's understanding of the rural electric program.

YOUTH DAY
One half day is spent with more than 1,500 other touring students, listening to well known speakers and representatives of National Agricultural Policy - people like the Secretary of Agriculture and the current NRECA president.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The YLC is a policy-making body of students, each state participating in the tour has one representative. Depending on committee assignment, each YLC member takes part in additional trips and NRECA activities.

To visit the NRECA Youth Tour Homepage click the link below: