The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives in countless ways. Many of us shifted to working from home. We stopped getting together with family and friends. And of course, large gatherings were put on hold.

The Government-in-Action Youth Tour was no exception. For the first time in its more than 50-year history, Youth Tour was canceled—for two years running.

But come June, students from across the country will converge once again on Washington, D.C., for this unforgettable experience—with an itinerary that promises to be as exciting and inspiring as ever. And in true Texas fashion, the delegation from the Lone Star State is slated to be bigger than ever before.

All of us in Co-op Country were saddened to see Youth Tour canceled the past two years, but we knew it was the right decision for the health and safety of all those involved. Planning and executing the trip is a massive undertaking that must account for the well-being of more than 150 Texas delegates and 20 chaperones, and the Texas Electric Cooperatives Board of Directors decided that the risk was simply too great.

Thankfully, Youth Tour is back on for 2022, and we at San Patricio Electric Cooperative couldn’t be more excited to again send two local students on this life-changing trip.

Youth Tour represents one of our most important investments in the future of the communities we serve. Participating students travel to Austin and Washington to learn about the critical role of electric cooperatives, meet their congressional representatives, and gain a deeper perspective on the history and mechanisms of our democracy.

Attendees often return with a renewed commitment to their hometowns, and many have gone on to become teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians and even co-op employees in those communities.

We are honored to join our fellow Texas electric cooperatives in carrying on the enduring legacy of Youth Tour.

We encourage all eligible high school students to apply for Youth Tour! Applications are due by January 21, 2021. 

For more information and eligibility details visit: sanpatricioelectric.org/youth-tour