YT 2026

Save the Date! 2026 Youth Tour is June 14-20, 2026!

Each year in June, Grundy County REC sponsors one high school student in their sophomore, junior, or senior year, to attend Youth Tour in our nation's capital. This all-expense-paid trip is one that students will never forget! 

Students will learn about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government. They also have the opportunity to visit with their representatives in the House and Senate and tour popular destinations around Washington, DC! Applicants must be the dependent of a current Grundy County REC member to qualify.

Questions? Contact Allyson Miller at amiller@grundycountyrecia.org or call our office at (319) 824-5251. To learn more, visit: https://www.iowarec.org/youth-tour!

The application process will open soon!

Hear what previous Youth Tour Representatives have to say!


      

Youth Tour FAQs

One student will be selected from eligible candidates to attend the 2026 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., from June 14-20 along with 40 other student leaders from Iowa. The Iowa Youth Tour group will join with hundreds of students from across the country as they learn more about electric cooperatives and American history and come home with a greater understanding of their role as American citizens. Students will also learn about U.S. government and meet with their members of Congress. On the trip, students take in the sights of D.C. as they visit monuments, museums and historical landmarks. Students who go on Youth Tour often call it the trip of a lifetime!

Some of the things students will do and see on Youth Tour:

  • Washington Monument
  • World War II Memorial
  • Albert Einstein Memorial
  • FDR Memorial
  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  • The National Mall
  • Boat cruise on the Potomac River
  • Holocaust Memorial
  • Ford's Theater
  • Korean War Veterans Memorial
  • lincoln Memorial
  • Iowa Jima Sunset Parade
  • White House
  • U.S. Capitol
  • US Army Museum

June 14-20, 2026 (orientation on the evening of June 14 in Des Moines, then fly out to D.C. on June 15)

In order to qualify, applicants must be a current high school sophomore, junior, or senior whose parent(s) or legal guardians are current members of Grundy County REC.

We are accepting Youth Tour applications now through March 6, 2026. The application process consists of completing our application form which includes an essay question. We will conduct in-person interviews with finalists. You can download the fillable application form from the link above or stop by our office for a printed copy. Contact Allyson Miller via email at amiller@grundycountyrecia.org or by phone at 319-824-5251 for more information. Deadline is March 6, 2026.

There is NO cost to the student who is selected to go on the trip. All expenses are paid by Grundy County REC as part of our ongoing commitment to the communities we serve.