Since 1958, Iowa's electric cooperatives have sponsored high school students from across America to visit the nation's capital. Each year, ECI REC sponsors two high school sophomores or juniors on this expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Approximately 40 high school students are chosen by electric cooperatives from across the state of Iowa. These students join more than 1,800 students from co-ops across the country to visit historical sites, meet congressional leaders, spend a day on Capitol Hill, cruise down the Potomac River, and learn about American history and government.
Other things students do and see on Youth Tour include:
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Washington Monument
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World War II Memorial
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Albert Einstein Memorial
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial
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The National Mall
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Holocaust Memorial
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Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
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Ford's Theatre
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Korean War Veterans Memorial
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Lincoln Memorial
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Washington National Cathedral
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Iwo Jima Sunset Parade
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White House
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Newseum
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And more!
Applications
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2023-24 Youth Tour Application Parent Permission form (Document #CS-0032)
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2023-24 Youth Tour Essay Questions (Document #CS-0031)
NOTE: To help ensure a successful email submission, it may be best to save the PDF document to your computer, complete the form, SAVE and/or SAVE AS (another file name), and attach the completed and saved PDF to a message to the email address the form indicates. To view and/or to complete PDF forms, you may need to download one of the following FREE PDF readers: Foxit or Adobe Reader.
Learn More
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Facebook and Twitter pages of the Iowa Electric Cooperatives' Youth Tour
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What to Expect on the Youth Tour video
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Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives Student Programs
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National Rural Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour website
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Why Apply for Youth Tour video
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List of current and past Youth Tour participants sponsored by ECI REC
Youth Leadership Council
Youth Tour winners may also apply to serve on NRECA's Youth Leadership Council and represent the state of Iowa in this capacity. Check out 2019's video!
In 2010, one of ECI REC's Youth Tour winners represented Iowa, serving on the council for 2010-2011 period.
Scholarship Program for Youth Tour Alums
Youth Tour alumni who’ve completed their first year of college or received the equivalent credits can now apply for the Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Foundation scholarship. Former Youth Tour participants are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Applications will be accepted from January through March. As part of the application, students must include a link to a video testimonial explaining how they have demonstrated one of the seven cooperative principles. The application can be found on the Youth Tour Portal of NRECA.coop.