Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Baldwin EMC has made the difficult, but necessary, decision to cancel the 2021 Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour trips to Montgomery, Ala., and Washington, D.C.
While we’re disappointed, we’re happy to announce an exciting new spin on the Youth Tour program that will allow us to recognize outstanding young leaders in a more financially rewarding and safe way. Introducing the Baldwin EMC Youth Tour leadership scholarship! We will be selecting high school juniors who are eager to:
- Earn money for college
- Gain leadership skills
- Build your college resume
- Win a grant for a teacher
Interested students can get an application by downloading it here, or by calling (251) 989-6247 and speaking with Youth Tour coordinator Kim Frank. The deadline to apply has passed. Applications for the 2022 Youth Tour program will be available in the fall of 2021.
The top applicants will be “virtually” interviewed by a panel of judges who will choose four final winners for the Youth Tour leadership scholarship.
Questions? Give us a call!
History of the Youth Tour
The purpose of the Youth Tour is to educate young people on all aspects of rural electrification in order to promote a better understanding of the value of rural electric cooperatives. It also provides an opportunity for young people to visit historic monuments, government buildings and cooperative-related organizations in order to become familiar with the historical and political environment of the nation’s capital. Youth Tour also provides an opportunity for young people to meet elected officials in order to better understand how their federal and state governments work.
Youth Tour to Washington
The annual Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. is held each year during June. After arriving in Washington, D.C. touring students have very little time to rest – there’s too much to do! Some of the places students tour include the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the National Cathedral. But not all of their time is spent touring; students are also given an opportunity to meet Alabama’s Congressional Delegation and chat with their elected officials, usually over a meal in the Senate or House office complex.
NRECA
The students will spend time at the headquarters of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), where they will gain an insider’s understanding of the rural electric program.
Youth Day
One half day is spent with more than 1,500 other touring students, listening to well-known speakers and representatives of National Agricultural Policy – people like the Secretary of Agriculture and the current NRECA president.
Youth Consulting Board
The YCB is a policy making body of students; each state participating in the tour has one representative. Depending on committee assignment, each YCB member takes part in additional trips and NRECA activities.