Youth Tourists Take On Washington, D.C.

South River EMC understands the importance of taking care of our kids. We strive to offer benefits to the children of our community in order to secure a brighter tomorrow.

Rural Electric Youth Tour 2012

June 16-22, 2012 three rising juniors and/or seniors will take part in some great adventures, on behalf of South River EMC. These students will join a delegation of North Carolina students in Washington, D.C. this summer as part of the Rural Electric Youth Tour. The Youth Tour involves more than 1,500 students representing electric cooperatives from across the nation. Each year, South River EMC offers this opportunity to local students to be a part of the unforgettable Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington DC. Click the link to see an excellent video on the Youth Tour and what it has to offer!

While in Washington DC, the North Carolina contingent joins electric cooperative representatives from throughout the United States for a week of fun and learning. Here is a glance of what experiences students have during the Youth Tour:

Participate in Youth Day, where students learn more about America's electric cooperatives;
Lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery;
Visit Capitol Hill and meet with our North Carolina Senators and Congressmen;
Visit the sites of Washington, D.C. including the monuments;
Vist the Smithsonian museums;
Take a boat trip down the Potomac River;
Visit the Newseum;
Take in a show at the Kennedy Center;
Visit the Holocaust Museum and;
Attend an All States Dance.

North Carolina's students establish a Soda Pop Co-op to provide a supply of affordable drinks while in Washington, D.C. Each student pays $1 to become a member of the cooperative. A board of directors is appointed and they hire a manager and assistant manager. At the end of the trip, the cooperative is dissolved and each student is refunded their membership fee and capital credits.

In 2011, South River EMC was represented by Douglas Stephens IV of Wade and Justin Goff of Fayetteville. Douglas was selected by his peers to represent North Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council. Congratulations Doug!

Each year, the students return with many interesting stories and memories to last a lifetime. For more information about the Rural Electric Youth Tour, call Julie Wahl at 910-892-8071, ext. 2151 or e-mail, jwahl@sremc.com.

The 2012 application period is now open. Download your application here.

Applications are due to the Cooperative by February 27.

For more information on the Rural Electric Youth Tour visit the official National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour site.

Scholarships Available To Youth Tourists

Students attending the Rural Electric Youth Tour are eligible to win the $2500 Gwen B. Price Scholarship and the $2000 Katie Bunch Memorial Scholarship. For more information visit our scholarship page.