Local high school juniors are invited to participate in our Youth Day program, which includes a visit to the state capitol building in Springfield, IL. There, students will participate in the Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperatives Youth Day along with young representatives from other cooperatives across Illinois. They will visit government offices, meet with their elected representatives, listen to speeches on current topics, and visit various historical sites in our capital city. Seniors and Sophomores may also apply; however, precedence will be given to Junior students. Youth Day 2026 will take place on Wednesday, March 25th.
At the conclusion of Youth Day, judges from the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) will select two winners and one alternate to represent Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative during the Youth to Washington Tour in Washington, D.C. Students do not have to be interested in attending the Washington trip in order to participate in Youth Day at the Capitol.
Youth to Washington winners will spend one week in Washington, D.C. in June visiting places of historical interest, as well as members of Congress, and getting a firsthand view of our government in action. Students also learn more about the important role cooperatives play in our nation by organizing a Chip ‘N Pop Co-op on the tour bus. Youth to Washington Tour 2026 will take place June 15-22 2026.
Both the Youth Day and Youth to Washington trips are chaperoned by adults and are expense free for students
Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative has been sending students to Washington, D.C. for decades. Today, approximately 2,000 students from 42 cooperatives across the United States meet at our nation’s capital each summer. Visit youthtour.coop for more details.
Click here for more information about Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative. You can also visit our national association, NRECA, at www.electric.coop for
Watch the video below for a glimpse of Youth Tour 2025!
The Youth Day application can be found below.
Please contact Julie Waghorn at 217-438-6197 with any questions
DEADLINE: February 20, 2026
Safety Demonstration for Students and Youth Groups
A table-top High Voltage Safety Demonstration is provided free of charge for schools and community groups in our area. While plugging in to an ordinary 120-volt outlet, the display puts 10,000 volts of sizzling power through the lines, and draws electrical arcs up to a half inch long.
The importance of being aware of overhead and underground electric wires is taught, with several examples of accidents that can happen and how to avoid them.
