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Washington, D.C., Youth Tour Delegates Gain Unique Insights
What happens when you take a group of high school juniors on an immersive trip to the nation’s capital? History comes to life. Government moves beyond textbook pages. New friendships form, perspectives broaden, and students develop a greater appreciation of the world around them.
Central Electric Cooperative’s 2026 Washington, D.C., Youth Tour delegates Elliot Lau, from Mountain View High School, and Sahalie Medlock, from Redmond High School, can attest to how this trip is 1 they will remember forever.
“For me, the best part of the Youth Tour was getting to experience our nation’s capital in person,” Elliot says. “Being able to see the places where major events took place or places that represent events made it so much more meaningful than just reading about it.”
Sahalie says she has new admiration for our nation’s history. “From visiting Mount Vernon to seeing the sheer amount of lives lost represented at each memorial, I think this trip helped put into perspective some of the most important moments in our nation’s history,” she says. “Even seeing the Capitol Building gave me a new appreciation for what happens in our nation’s capital.”
During a fast-paced week, the delegates toured a variety of famous landmarks, including Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Washington National Cathedral.
“My favorite destination was the Vietnam War Memorial,” Sahalie says. “I had just learned about the war in school, and seeing the memorial made everything I learned feel so real and devastating. Everything from the design of the memorial to the symbolic trees surrounding the section dedicated to the 8 (U.S. servicewomen) who died in Vietnam felt so intentional, and I am very grateful I was able to experience that.”
A different memorial struck Elliot. “My favorite destination was the Lincoln Memorial because of the size as well as the level of detail,” he says. “It shows the amount of effort and time that was put into building it.”
Making Connections
1 of the hallmarks of Youth Tour is delegates meeting peers from across the country. Elliot says 1 of his favorite moments from the trip was Youth Day, when more than 1,700 student representatives came together at once.
“I enjoyed this because the presentation was meaningful and it was nice getting to meet people from all over the country and seeing similarities and differences across the country,” he says. Sahalie says during the trip she gained a new perspective on life and opened herself up to making new friends. “I loved all the connections I was able to make with the other delegates, and I am still in touch with a lot of them today,” she says. “Being able to experience the trip with people who were similar to me made all of the amazing things we did that much better.”
During their time in Washington, D.C., Youth Tour delegates learned about electric cooperatives, including their history and the federal government’s role in bringing electricity to rural communities.
“I learned how crucial it is for electric cooperatives to have federal support,” Sahalie says. “Seeing the 1,770-plus kids there who are from rural America made me think about how devastating it would be to a large part of the population if electric cooperatives did not exist.”
Delegates connected with Oregon senators, representatives, and their staffs. The students were able to ask questions, gain perspective on issues, and learn about what it is like to work on Capitol Hill.
“I liked learning how the government and electric cooperatives work together,” Elliot says. “I also really enjoyed the opportunity to meet our senators as well.”
Why Youth Tour?
Elliot and Sahalie are emphatic in saying they would take this trip again. “I think it was such a valuable and immersive experience that I wouldn’t want to pass it up,” Sahalie says. “Youth Tour gave me a new appreciation and understanding of our nation’s history, as well as broadening my perspective of the world.
Elliot says he would recommend this trip to other students in a heartbeat. “The experience I had at the Youth Tour was 1 I will remember forever,” Elliot says. “I think for kids, especially in smaller towns, it is incredibly beneficial to get a switch from daily life. It also helps you learn about many places you might have heard about in school but never seen in person. This was an unforgettable trip, and I don’t really see any downside to applying, but it is absolutely worth the opportunity.”
Sahalie agrees. “I would recommend this trip to other students because of the connections you are going to make and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you are going to have,” she says. “Even though you could visit the memorials and monuments by yourself, going with a group of like-minded and intrigued students really makes a difference. On this trip, I made memories I will never forget.”