Youth Tour

A group of Youth Tour participants standing in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
The 2020 Youth Tour Kansas Delegation

Each year, Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative selects one outstanding high school sophomore or junior who lives in a household served by Heartland to take part in an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. as part of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.

This year’s Youth Tour will take place from June 14-20, 2024.

What does Youth Tour build?

Leadership

  • Some of our state’s most influential leaders are Youth Tour alumni who attribute their achievements to this trip. While in Washington, D.C., you will meet with state and national legislators and nationally recognized speakers to talk about current topics important to our rural communities.

Community

  • Thousands of high school students from electric cooperative communities across the country meet in Washington, D.C. Together, you will experience a trip of a lifetime and build meaningful connections.

Memories

  • From touring the Smithsonian museums and many memorials to cruising on the Potomac River — you’ll be sure to capture memories to share on your Snapchat Story and remember for a lifetime.

What happens on the Youth Tour?

  • Tour the Kansas State Capitol and the U.S. Capitol
  • Meet with our Senators, Congressional Representatives, and their staff
  • Tour Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Pentagon, Air Force, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D Eisenhower, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, and World War II Memorials.
  • Learn about language at Planet Word
  • Tour Arlington National Cemetery
  • Have a dinner/dance cruise on the Potomac with students from other states
  • Tour the Smithsonian Museums
  • Cheer on the Washington Nationals vs. the Marlins
  • Witness the Sunset Parade and Marching Band at the US Marine Corp Memorial
  • Walk in George Washington’s footsteps at Mt. Vernon
  • Learn more about the electric cooperatives and their commitment to community at the All-State Youth Program
  • Have a photo op outside the White House
  • And more!

What are some traits of Youth Tour participants?

  • An awesome personality
  • Leadership potential
  • A strong academic record
  • An interest in travel

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Parent, legal guardian or applicant must be a member of Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative (i.e. electric account must be in their name).
  • Applicants must be high school sophomores or juniors during the 2023-2024 school year. (Homeschool students are eligible.)
  • Applicants who advance to the interview phase must be able to participate in an interview with the selection committee in early February.
  • Applicants must be able to participate in the Youth Tour trip from June 14-20, 2024.
  • Applicants must be able to ride in a bus for several hours in a single day and fly in an airplane.
  • Applicants must be willing to promote the trip in ways deemed necessary by the cooperative, including, but not limited to, being recorded and speaking publicly regarding the trip.
  • Applicants must have a valid state-issued ID.
  • Applicants must be students in good standing as defined by the school institution of attendance.
  • Applicants must not have any past or pending violations of the law.
  • Prior winners of the Youth Tour contest are not eligible to win.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.

How can students apply?

  • Applications for the 2024 Youth Tour are now closed.