An All-Expense-Paid Trip to Washington, D.C. for High School Juniors
Each June, over 1,500 high school students from across the country travel to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong, once-in-a-lifetime experience known as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Sponsored by electric cooperatives like RVEC, the tour is designed to educate students about our nation's history, government, and the role electric cooperatives play in powering rural communities.
At Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative (RVEC), one way we invest in the next generation of rural Iowa leaders is by participating in the national Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program. RVEC is looking for students with a passion for government and public service to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to our nation’s capital in June! For more than 65 years, Iowa’s locally owned electric cooperatives have been sending deserving students to D.C. This program is a great resume builder for student leaders and a wonderful opportunity to kickstart one’s passion for government affairs or advocacy.
One student will be selected from eligible candidates to attend the 2026 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., from June 14-20 along with 40 other student leaders from Iowa. The Iowa Youth Tour group will join nearly 2,000 other students from across the country as they learn more about electric cooperatives and American history and come home with a greater understanding of their role as an American citizen. Students will also learn about U.S. government and meet with their members of Congress. On the trip, students take in the sights of D.C. as they visit monuments, museums and historical landmarks. Students who go on Youth Tour often call it the trip of a lifetime!
High School sophomores and juniors from one of the seven schools (Glidden-Ralston, Carroll, Kuemper Catholic, Coon Rapids-Bayard, East Sac County, OA-BCIG, and Ridge View) in RVEC territory are eligible to apply. Parents do NOT Have to be members to be eligible. RVEC is accepting applications from now until February 27, 2026. The application process consists of completing our application form which includes an essay question. We will also conduct in-person interviews with 3 semi-finalists in March. Applications are available at the RVEC office in Glidden or by email. Please contact Morgan Kramer at 712-659-3649 or morgank@rvec.coop for more information.
We invite high school juniors residing in the RVEC service area who are interested in public service, leadership, or government to apply. If you’re passionate about learning, meeting new people, and exploring our nation’s capital, this is for you!