National Rural Electric Youth Tour

Each year, high school juniors can apply for the National Rural Electric Youth Tour, an educational, fun-filled week in Washington, D.C. The 2012 tour will take place Sunday, June 17 through Friday, June 22.

To be considered, students must be high school juniors and able to complete all requirements and participate in the selection process. Students should have leadership ability, public speaking skills and be socially outgoing, but need not necessarily be academically at the "top of the class."

Information about the Youth Tour is also provided to high school guidance counselors throughout Adams Electric's service territory.

If you have questions, contact Reneé Benner at Adams Electric by calling toll-free 888/232-6732. You may also obtain more information by visiting www.youthtour.coop.

Click for some frequently asked questions about the annual Youth Tour.

Look at photos of past Youth Tour classes.

Click here to see the 2011 National Rural Electric Youth Tour participants.

'The Power of the Cooperative Story': Youth Spokesman Gilbert Speaks at 2011 Annual Meeting

Travis Gilbert, of Newville, a student at Big Springs High School, participated along with 13 other students from Adams Electric on the 2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour, held June 13-18. After being selected to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Youth Leadership Council, Gilbert was selected by a group of peers as the national spokesman for the group. In the video above, Travis addresses Adams Electric members on June 11 at the 2011 annual meeting.

Gilbert named National Youth Spokesman

Travis Gilbert, son of Adams Electric members John and Cathy Gilbert of Newville, has been selected to represent Pennsylvania on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership Council. He was selected while representing Adams Electric at the 2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. in June.

The Youth Leadership Council delegates met in July to hone their speaking and leadership skills, and will attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association annual meeting in Orlando, Florida in March 2011. Gilbert was selected by his peers as the national spokesman for the youth delegation. He will address the crowd at the NRECA Annual Meeting.

Gilbert, a student at Big Spring High School, is the fourth student sponsored by the co-op to be selected to the youth delegation. The last was Kirk Shoemaker of Dover, who was selected in 2005. Pennsylvania has never had a delegate selected as National spokesman before 2010.

Photo above right: Travis Gilbert takes a turn at the White House press lectern at Madame Tussauds wax museum in Washington, D.C., one of many stops for this year’s youth tour students. Travis did not know at the time that he would be named the national spokesman for the 2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour.

Travis Gilbert Speaks at PREA Summer Meeting

Travis Gilbert of Newville, a student at Big Spring High School, participated along with 13 other students from Adams Electric on the 2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour, held June 13-18. He was selected as Pennsylvania's Outstanding Student. In the video above, Travis reports to those attending the 2010 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association's Summer Meeting held on July 17 in State College, Pa. On July 21, Travis was also selected as the NRECA Youth Tour spokesman.