Youth Tour Applications are Open!
Attention high school juniors: experience an unforgettable, FREE week in Washington, D.C. with students from across the country! Youth Tour is a leadership-focused, once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid trip taking place June 15-20, 2026. Don't miss out, applications are now open!
Eligibility Requirements:
1. Be a current high school junior.
2. Reside in a home receiving electric service from Central Electric Cooperative.
3. Complete the Youth Tour application.
4. Attach an appropriate portrait (school or sport) style photo of yourself.
5. Submit your 500-word essay with your application.
Essay Topic: What makes you a good candidate to represent CEC on the 2026 Youth Tour and what do you expect to gain from your Washington, D.C. experience?
Applications and all application requirements must be received by CEC by Feb. 6, 2026.
EXPLORE
EXPLORE
Students will explore D.C.'s many museums, monuments, and memorials. They’ll experience sights honoring figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., and Abraham Lincoln, and explore memorials dedicated to American conflicts like WWII, as well as Arlington National Cemetery. They will experience sights like the the Air & Space Museum, the Holocaust museum and events such as a dinner cruise on the Potomac and live theater at the Kennedy Center.
LEARN
LEARN
Learn our nation's history and discover their place in our democracy. Youth Tour students have the opportunity to visit the Capitol Building and participate in a meeting with their elected representative where they can ask questions and learn about the work done on Capitol Hill. They’ll also learn about cooperatives, our nation, and the impact they have on their community and country!
CONNECT
CONNECT
Experience the excitement of Youth Tour with students from across the country. Lifelong friendships have begun from sharing Youth Tour experiences. They’ll join a network of Youth Tour alumni that includes senators and CEOs. Youth Tour opens students up to networking connections, valuable experiences, and exclusive scholarships, as well as an amazing trip they’ll never forget!