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Youth Programs

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High School Sophomores and Juniors
Energy Camp Information

Each year member-systems of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA) accept applications from area high school students to attend the NREA Youth Energy Camp at State 4-H Camp in the Halsey National Forest, usually the third week in July. The popular week-long camp is set up to give young people a better understanding of the legislative process, power generation and the rural electric program. Our goal is to offer a program that challenges participants educationally, recreationally and socially.

The Youth Energy Camp is established as an operating rural electric system and provides a "hands-on" approach to member-owned businesses. The students will join up to 80 high school students from Nebraska and Wyoming, along with adult counselors and junior counselors. The adult counselors are employees of rural electric systems who donate their time and talents to the camp. The junior counselors are selected by their peers to return to next year's camp.

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On the first day of camp, a board of directors is elected to oversee the operation of the newly-formed system. The board then chooses a general manager to oversee the committee activities and act as a liaison between the counselors and campers. Every participant has a role in the workings of the camp. Students can participate in the Ambassador competition or actively seek a position on the Board of Directors. Each student must also volunteer to serve on at least one of the committees responsible for various aspects of the camp activities.

The State 4-Camp is located in the Halsey National Forest, near Halsey, Neb. Recreational facilities include basketball, volleyball and canoeing. Camp expenses and transportation are provided by each sponsoring rural electric system. High school sophomores and juniors whose families are customers of NREA member systems may apply. Eligible students must contact their rural electric system by April 1. Final selections will be made by April 15. A highlight of the camp involves a tour of the Kingsley Hydro Station at Lake McConaughy and Gerald Gentleman Station, a coal-fired power plant at Sutherland, Neb.

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Youth Tour

The Nebraska Rural Electric Washington Youth Tour is an annual, weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, that is open to high school students who have participated in the Youth Energy Camp. Nationwide, rural electric providers from 41 states participate. In all, more than 1,300 young people from across the nation gather in Washington, DC, each year for this event.

Member-systems of NREA send students to Washington, DC, for a variety of reasons including:
  1. Educating students about the role of rural electric systems in the national economy;
  2. Fostering students' appreciation for the democratic form of government;
  3. Exposing students to the sights and sounds of our nation's heritage; and
  4. Building students' leadership skills so that they may make a difference in their rural communities.

High school students who attend the energy camp have the opportunity to compete for a chance to participate as state ambassadors in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Youth Tour in Washington D.C. in June of the following year. All ambassador expenses are paid by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association and through a scholarship provided by Union Bank and Trust. Three students are selected by their peers to serve as ambassadors.

The Ambassador competition involves submitting an application at Youth Energy Camp, presenting a self-introduction speech, and delivering a five-minute speech on an assigned topic. Each camper votes for three candidates following the speech with the top male, top female and person with the next highest vote total becoming next year's ambassadors. The top six finalists and ties are invited to return to next year's Youth Energy Camp as junior counselors.

Youth who have attended camp may also have the opportunity to attend Youth Tour as a delegate of their local rural electric provider. Not all systems participate and application procedures will vary. Those youth who are interested should contact their local rural electric system for more information.

Youth Tour 2008 will be held June 14-19, 2008.
Nebraska delegates and ambassadors will tour the Nation's Capitol including the National Mall and the Smithsonian Museums. Participants will have breakfast with the Nebraska congressional delegation and they will visit congressional offices. Trips outside the Beltway include a visit to Mount Vernon and a dinner theatre in Woodbridge, VA.

The Washington Youth Tour is sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Nebraska Rural Electric Association and participating members of the NREA. NREA Government Relations Director, Kristen Gottschalk, serves as Youth Tour Director.

Student participants in the Nebraska Rural Electric Washington Youth Tour may apply to be Nebraska's representative to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council (YLC). The YLC is composed of one representative from each of the 41 states that participate in the Youth Tour. YLC members have the opportunity for additional free travel and leadership training.

Youth Tour Itinerary

YLC Activities

NRECA Youth Tour Link: http://youthtour.coop


    NRECA Youth Leadership Conference
    July--Washington, DC Area

    At this July 19-28, 2008, workshop, all 41 YLC representatives will have the opportunity to hone their public speaking skills, develop their leadership skills, and enhance their understanding of politics. Group recreational activities will also be provided.

    Nebraska Rural Electric Association Annual Meeting
    December 4-5, 2008--Kearney

    Nebraska's YLC representative will deliver a brief (5-7 minutes) speech about his or her experiences in Washington, DC, to the NREA Board of Directors and participants at the NREA annual meeting.

    NRECA Annual Meeting
    February 11-18, 2009-- New Orleans, LA

    All 41 YLC representatives will assist the NRECA staff with the conduct of the NRECA annual meeting. YLC responsibilities at this meeting will include participating in the meeting's opening assembly, staffing information booths, learning about energy issues, and assisting with committee meetings. Group recreational activities will also be provided.