Every June, a select group of high school students from across Illinois leave their rural communities to spend a week taking in the historic sights and bustling energy of the nation’s capital.
This year, 48 students sponsored by 25 Illinois electric cooperatives took part in the 2025 Youth Tour to visit Washington, D.C., June 16 to 23, for an immersive weeklong experience designed to educate and inspire the next generation of cooperative and civic leaders.
EnerStar Electric Cooperative sponsors students within its service territory to go on this trip every year. Anna Sullivan represented the co-op and joined more than 2,000 students from 44 states for the annual event.
“This trip is so much more than sightseeing,” said Angela Griffin, EnerStar’s CEO. “It’s about building relationships, learning leadership, and showing that they have the power to shape their communities and futures.”
Learning by doing
Central to the Youth Tour experience is the formation of a mock student-run cooperative called Chip ’n’ Pop Co-op. Students began their journey at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC), headquartered in Springfield, where they selected a co-op board. The board later interviewed and selected a co-op manager.
Throughout the week, the co-op handled snack sales, decision-making, and budgeting — giving participants a hands-on look at how cooperatives operate. “Being part of a co-op helps students understand what makes a co-op different,” said Griffin. “It’s all about working together and making decisions that serve everyone — not just one person or company.”
A full week of history
Over the course of the week, students visited historic landmarks, including Gettysburg and Arlington National Cemetery, and, for the first time in many years, had the opportunity to tour the White House, where they caught a glimpse of President Donald Trump. They also toured the U.S. Capitol, strolled along the National Mall, stood at the steps of the Supreme Court, and explored the Smithsonian museums.
Midweek, students took part in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Day, where they joined hundreds of other teens from across the country to hear from national leaders and learn how to use their voices back home.
From sobering visits to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial to moments of laughter at the Museum of Illusions and team-building at Beat the Bomb, the Youth Tour experience was unforgettable.
“Whether or not these students go into politics or work for their local co-op, one thing is certain — their time on the Youth Tour gave them tools, friendships, and insights that will serve them for years to come,” Griffin said.
A trip that lasts a lifetime
More information and applications for the 2026 Youth Tour will be available at www.enerstar.com. In the meantime, to learn more about Youth Tour, go to youthtour.coop or facebook.com/ILYouthTour.