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Youth Tour 2026: NJ Students Make Their Mark

  By: Steve Sokolowski, Marketing & Member Services Associate

  Email: ssokolowski@sussexrec.com

Each summer, over 1,800 high schoolers from all over the country gather at our nation’s capital through Youth Tour, a unique opportunity made possible by their local electric cooperatives.

Youth Tour is a decades-long program that empowers rural America by teaching its students about their roles in our nation, in their local communities, and as members of electric cooperatives. On Youth Tour, students spend a week in Washington, D.C. to see its many famous sights, visit Capitol Hill to meet with elected officials and staff, and meet their peers from all over the country.

Over 1,800 students attended 2026’s trip, including the seven local students sponsored by Sussex REC to represent our community—Anderson, Bri, Jake, Lia, Manny, Tessa, and Victoria.

Vernon’s Tessa Pelak was elected by her peers from the New Jersey and Pennsylvania contingent to serve as New Jersey’s Youth Leadership Council student for the year. As our state’s representative, she will have the opportunity to speak at upcoming events for our statewide and national associations and will also organize a community service project.

Youth Tour is a lifechanging experience that opens doors for students. Youth Tour students have received scholarships from their co-ops, choose to go to school in D.C, or even find jobs in the government or with their co-ops!

If your son or daughter is entering their junior year, talk to them about Youth Tour! The application for 2027’s trip will be coming this Fall at www.njyouthtour.com. Don’t let your child miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!