What to Expect from Youth Tour 2024

For over two decades, Delaware Electric Cooperative has participated in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Annual Youth Tour event, which brings students from across the country together in Washington D.C. for a week in June to network, learn about their government, and better understand the importance of electric co-ops. Since it began in the 1950’s, over 50,000 students nationwide have taken advantage of this unique opportunity, with more than 1,500 participating each year.

Throughout the Youth Tour experience, students attend a variety of presentations hosted by utility industry experts, lawmakers and motivational speakers, ranging in topics from the cooperative business model and principles to leadership skills and beyond. Still, Youth Tour isn’t only an informative event – it’s also about having fun! Traditionally, NRECA has a lineup of activities to suit every student’s interest, from attending major league baseball games to taking in shows at the Kennedy Center, to dinner cruises on the Potomac River, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

According to DEC’s manager of public relations and community affairs – and Youth Tour chaperone – Lauren Irby, it’s the hope of the Co-op that sponsoring students to participate in this event will demonstrate the investment of co-ops in the communities they serve, and help students recognize their own power to create the future they envision for themselves.

“Our delegates will learn about the cooperative business model and how co-ops invest in the future of the communities they serve,” Irby says. “We encourage students that are active in their community to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity.”

This year, DEC will sponsor three high school or homeschool juniors to represent the Co-op from June 17 through June 21 at Youth Tour 2024. Students can apply using the online application on our website, found here. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity – apply before March 29 for consideration.