A summer tradition returns with the arrival of NRECA’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to the nation’s capital June 14-21.

About 2,100 youth delegates and chaperones from 44 states will bring attendance back to pre‑pandemic levels, representing a record of almost 700 co‑ops. They will gather at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

“The goal of NRECA’s Youth Programs is to attract, build and retain the next generation of cooperative leaders through sustained engagement, and the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is just the start of that journey,” said NRECA Youth Programs Manager Cale McCall.

On the June 18 Youth Day, delegates will hear from several speakers: NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, NRECA President Mike Partin, Youth Leadership Council spokesperson Brynn Lee Hirata and motivational speaker Mike Schlappi, a wheelchair basketball player who has appeared in four consecutive summer Paralympic Games.

This year’s Youth Day program will include a larger focus on how delegates can leverage the experience later in life, whether they go on to post-secondary education or enter the workforce. Delegates will hear from past participants who work on Capitol Hill, a co-op communicator and Youth Leadership Council alumnae.

“We want to showcase how the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour can be the starting point of a delegate’s professional journey,” McCall said. “And more importantly, how co-ops support a wide range of careers.”

An expanded Connections Fair will provide delegates more opportunities to network and learn about resources such as the Glenn English Foundation and Co-ops Vote, where they’ll be able to take a voter registration pledge. Delegates will get a chance to take headshots for social media profiles and learn how to integrate the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour into college application essays.

Over 800 delegates and staff will also participate in two new learning workshops focused on preparing for visits to Capitol Hill and sharpening their leadership skills for when they return home.

NRECA is continuing to partner with co-ops across the country to provide new resources for engaging younger members and encouraging participation in its suite of Youth Programs.

Among the latest to join the effort is SECO Energy, a Sumterville, Florida-based co-op that’s growing its Electric Cooperative Youth Tour presence with four delegates this year.

The co-op started participating again last year after a prolonged hiatus. The revival involved starting from scratch, and high schoolers initially showed little interest. Undeterred, SECO Vice President of Communications, Community and Member Service Kathy Judkins and her team visited all 20 of the service area’s high schools and even contacted members through the co-op’s member alert notification system.

That approach attracted responses from an unexpected set of members.

“Surprisingly, the strongest response came from grandparents eager for their grandchildren to understand civic engagement and the legislative process,” Judkins said.

SECO CEO Curtis Wynn said he’s proud of how the program has been gaining momentum. On a practical level, he said, more involvement with younger generations, “who tend to be harshest when rating us for service,” provides a window on their perspectives. The program's alumni are also potential employees.

“We don’t view this as an expense,” he said. “We see this as a true investment in our youth that’s going to give us big returns. It might take some time, but I think we'll definitely see it.”