Are You a Junior or Senior in High School?  Would You Like to See Washington D.C.?

H-D Electric Cooperative sponsors one high school junior or senior on a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., with the Rural Electric Youth Tour.  Typically, more than 30 students from South Dakota will team up with more than 1,800 students from across the nation.  Past participants have described this trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The all-expenses-paid trip includes transportation, room and board, entertainment, and sightseeing events.  Students are asked to provide their own personal spending money for items such as snacks and souvenirs. 

What makes electric cooperatives different from other utilities is that “giving something back to the
community” is part of their business plan.

Why do electric cooperatives bring high school students to Washington?

Learn about the political process to interact with your government
To become a better leader and a sense that they can make a difference
Students gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as a citizen
Meet their representative and senators
Explore the sights around the nation’s capital

During the trip, you’ll see tons of sites, meet teens from across the country and gain perspective on
community and cooperatives.

Among the sites that may be part of the tour (based on availability) are the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument,  U.S Capitol, Ford's Theatre, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Iowa Jima Statute, the National Archives, U.S. Supreme Court, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial among other exciting sites.  Past tours have also included a briefing with the South Dakota Congressional Delegation and a riverboat cruise across the Potomac River.

Eligibility

  • Junior or Senior in High School
  • Parents are members of H-D Electric Cooperative

The 2027 Trip application deadline is October 28, 2026  trip runs from June 17-23, 2027

For more information contact:  Jami Bolden    jamib@h-delectric.coop

 

Click here for trip information and the application form.