Win a Youth Leadership Trip

How do you have a trip of a lifetime as a high school student?

There’s only one way to find out!

Win a Youth Leadership Trip

How do you have a trip of a lifetime as a high school student?

There’s only one way to find out!

Nurturing Future Leaders

There may be no better example of the cooperative principles of Education, Training and Information, and Commitment to Community than San Isabel Electric Association’s youth leadership programs. We believe the future of our communities is our youth. Each year SIEA supports opportunities for at least four students to learn more about leadership, history, government, the co-op business model, energy and much more.

Watch the videos or click below to learn more about the all-expense paid, week-long, leadership opportunities

Youth Tour

View Sample Tour Itinerary

About Youth Tour

Washington D.C. Youth Tour candidates compete for one spot in the Washington, D.C. Youth Tour, a week-long all-expenses-paid trip (June 16-22, 2027) to Washington, D.C., sponsored by San Isabel Electric and organized by the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Colorado Electric Educational Institute.

Who should go to Youth Tour?

If you are a high school junior or senior whose family gets its’ power from San Isabel Electric
If you have big dreams of seeing the country
If you like history or want to shake hands with your congressman
If you’ve never flown in a plane but want to travel
If you want to meet new people

How to be nominated?

To be considered for this opportunity, students must be nominated by their school. If you’re interested in this opportunity, please contact your school counselor or principal.

Nomination information:

Each of the nine high schools SIEA serves can nominate one student.
Schools should use their own selection criteria to choose their nominee.
Nominees can be current sophomores, juniors, or seniors. Most participants are juniors.
We encourage schools to consider students who demonstrate leadership potential, would benefit from leadership development, and might not otherwise have access to a similar travel opportunity.
Nominations are due January 15.
Schools whose nominee is not selected will be guaranteed placement on one of the trips the following year.
If a selected student is unable to attend, a nominee from another school may be chosen as an alternate. We understand that summer jobs, internships, sports, family vacations, and other commitments can change students’ plans.

History of Youth Tour

The idea came from President Lyndon B. Johnson who advocated for rural electrification and youth development. In 1957, when he was still a U.S. Senator, Johnson suggested “sending youngsters to the nation’s capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”

This idea evolved into a nationwide effort to send youth on an organized, fun and educational trip in the 1960s. Now, over 50 years later, electric cooperatives from across the country send over 1,800 youth to the nation’s capital every summer.

Youth Camp

View Sample Camp Itinerary

About Youth Camp

This weeklong adventure (July 10-15, 2027) brings together about 100 students from Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and Oklahoma to the mountains near Steamboat Springs, CO. Students will learn about the cooperative business model and leadership skills that will serve them well throughout their life. There is also plenty of time set aside for campers to explore and enjoy the mountains of Colorado.

Who should go to Youth Camp?

If you are a high school junior or senior whose family gets its’ power from San Isabel Electric
If you want to make new friends from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming
If you want to visit the beautiful Rocky Mountains
If you want to strengthen your resume by adding, “Attended Cooperative Youth leadership Camp”
If you want to learn more about yourself and build new leadership skills that you will use the rest of your life

How to apply for Youth Camp?

To be considered for this opportunity, interested students must register to participate in an online scavenger hunt by 10 p.m. November 30. The scavenger hunt will begin on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. The first students to complete the scavenger hunt will be awarded a Youth Camp or Youth Tour trip.

Good luck!