Youth Tour
What is Youth Tour?
The Electric Cooperative Youth traces its origins to NRECA’s 1957 Annual Meeting, when then-Sen. Lyndon Baines Johnson said in his address to the association, “If one thing comes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”
Thus, NRECA’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour was born!
In the following years, some Texas cooperatives sent groups of young people to Washington to work during the summer in Johnson’s office. In 1958, a co-op in Iowa sponsored the first group of 34 young people on a weeklong tour of our nation’s capital. Later that same year, another busload came to Washington from Illinois. The idea grew, and other states sent busloads of young people throughout the summer. By 1959, the “Youth Tour” had grown to 130 students.
In 1964, NRECA began coordinating joint activities among the state delegations and suggested that co-op representatives from each state arrange to be in Washington, D.C., during Youth Tour Week. The first year of the coordinated Youth Tour included approximately 400 young people from 12 states. Word of the program has continued to spread, and Arizona joined the movement in 1981. Today, more than 1,800 students and over 300 chaperones participate every year.
Participating in the Youth Tour is an awesome way to learn about this great nation, develop leadership skills, gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives and make friendships that will last beyond the week.
Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA) coordinates Youth Tour to our nation’s capitol for the co-ops and tribal utilities in Arizona that participate in the program and are members of NRECA.
How It Happens
Youth Tour directors from each state association arrange their delegation’s visits to their U.S. representatives’ and senators’ offices, federal agencies and other educational and sightseeing activities. In addition to the planned statewide activities, NRECA coordinates several multistate activities focusing on leadership development and electric co-op advocacy, including Youth Day. During the program, delegates meet each other and hear featured speakers who provide insight into electric cooperatives’ important roles in their communities.
Students apply and are selected for the Youth Tour by their local electric cooperative to allow them to gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as citizens.
Nearly 100,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in this program. Some of our Youth Tour alumni have gone on to design airplanes, lead companies and serve in the highest ranks of our government, including the U.S. Senate. Don’t be surprised if you run into a former Youth Tour participant who is a congressional aide on Capitol Hill. While several of our alumni work in Washington, you will find even more alumni in your community.
Contact your local electric cooperative for more information on applying for the program. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is more than a trip to Washington, D.C. — it’s a leadership experience that has empowered hundreds of thousands of students since 1964.
The 2026 theme will honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Independence, by encouraging delegates to “Make Your Mark!”
Youth Tour Scholarships
The NRECA offers scholarships for WYT Alumni and participants. To view the current scholarships offered through NRECA, please click HERE to be directed to their scholarship web page.
These scholarships are a great way to engage with the WYT program through NRECA, as well as contribute funding to your college or university education! Still not sure about applying for the WYT scholarships? Check this out for more information and FAQ!
Still curious about more WYT scholarships? Reach out to your local WYT Coordinator to see if there are any remaining scholarships for WYT alumni/participants in your area.
Youth Leadership Council
During Youth Tour, you can have the chance to be selected to represent your state on the NRECA Youth Leadership Council (YLC). One student from each state is selected and they will come back to Washington, D.C., in July for a leadership workshop which will focus on the electric cooperative industry.
NRECA and your Arizona electric co-ops are dedicated to training and building the next generation of leaders for co-op communities. This commitment doesn’t stop at the end of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour; it continues all year long through the Youth Leadership Council. This 45-person delegation is composed of one delegate from each state with an electric cooperative or public power district. The council participates in a carefully curated educational curriculum designed to build leadership and public speaking skills and enhance the delegates’ knowledge of the energy industry and the cooperative business model.
These students will also make presentations at their statewide and local cooperative annual meetings. Each student will prepare a 5-7 minute speech about what inspired them during their Youth Tour trip.
Members of the YLC play an important role during NRECA’s Annual Meeting the following spring. Not only are the YLC members recognized on stage, they have a hands-on experience with virtually every facet of the meeting including the resolutions process and helping our members communicate with their legislators.
Youth Leadership Council members leave more poised, confident and a better developed leader with a strong determination to improve your community and make their country a better place. Further, they leave having built life-long friendships with other student leaders from across the country.
The YLC National Spokesperson
A panel of NRECA judges selects one national spokesperson and runner-up each year to serve as the council’s unifying voices. The national spokesperson addresses the over 6,000 attendees at NRECA’s PowerXchange and TechAdvantage and returns the following year to address delegates at the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
Please take a look at Haley Dorsey, the 2024 national spokesperson from North Carolina, and her address in San Antonio. See Haley’s speech HERE.
Youth Programs Alumni
Don’t let your Youth Tour journey end when you return from D.C.! Take advantage of our additional engagement opportunities to stay engaged with NRECA, your statewide association, your local cooperative and the electric cooperative industry. From internships to staff assistants to connecting with fellow alumni, stay engaged and start building your network today.
Check out more opportunities HERE!
General Information on Youth Programs Nationwide
For more information on scholarships, the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, and other alumni opportunities, please visit https://www.electric.coop/our-organization/youth-programs/alumni. Click HERE to view photos from the Youth Tour.