Youth Tour

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since 1964. Every year, Co-Mo sponsors a contest to select its delegates to the Youth Tour. These lucky few represent Co-Mo on a whirlwind tour of the nation's capital. They tour museums, visit America's most cherished monuments and even meet their elected officials. All the while they are learning about electric cooperatives and their role in the community. If you are a high school junior, you may be eligible to participate in the Youth Tour program.

______________

Details on the 2011 contest coming soon! Check back Sept. 13!

_____________

Co-Mo-sponsored Youth Tour teens return from nation’s capital

Tipton, Mo. (June 21, 2010) — Three high school seniors-to-be sponsored by Co-Mo Electric Cooperative returned June 17 from a weeklong trip to the nation’s capital as delegates for the nationwide electric cooperative Youth Tour 2010.

Leah Marie Thomas (Stover), Hannah Tuttle (Tipton) and TyleRe Goans (California) were three of the 85 teenagers who represented Missouri on the trip. The Missouri delegation was part of more than 1,500 high schoolers from around the country who participated in Youth Tour.

The six-day adventure provided an action-filled week for high school students, offering them opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics and to experience the intricacies of today’s pressing issues. The trio of Co-Mo delegates also met with their House representatives.

The young people toured the famous monuments and museums, as well as the Newseum and the Smithsonian Institution. The group also took a sightseeing and dance cruise on the Potomac River along with delegates from other states.

Other events included Electric Youth Day, during which a special program was coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. It brought together the 1,500-plus delegates for an event highlighted by Mike Schlappi, an inspiring four-time Paralympic medalist and two-time world wheelchair basketball champion. His message keyed on reaching your dreams despite the obstacles in your path.

Since 1964, the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have sponsored more than 42,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions, and sightseeing in Washington. For more information about the AMEC Youth Tour program, please go to www.amec.org/youth.html.

Youth Tour 2009 photo gallery