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Youth Tour Recap 2026

August 20, 2026

Elise Gramke, daughter of Patty and Jim Gramke of St. Cloud, recently returned from her trip representing Stearns Electric Association at the Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 15-20, 2026.

The 2026 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. was the experience of a lifetime that I am so thankful I got to be a part of. Between learning about our nation’s history, having chances to grow and making new friends, this trip was an unforgettable piece of my summer.

First off, we learned about lots of history. By going to memorials, monuments and museums all over Washington, D.C., we got to see important pieces of history. We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Franklin Roosevelt Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Seeing all of these special places helped to put into perspective how much our nation has encountered together as one.

We also got to experience history by going to the Smithsonian Museums. I went to the Museum of Air and Space, where I learned about America’s discoveries over the years leading to success in the fields of air and space; the Museum of Natural History, where I got to learn about the environment and how it grows and changes as well as geology and animals; and the National Archives where I got to see the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence, along with lots of other monumental documents that are essential to the USA as we know it.

Other places that taught us about history include the Holocaust Museum, the Marines Museum, the Library of Congress and the Capitol. Each place tells a unique story about history and I am so thankful that we got to see all of them.

Not only did we learn about history on the Youth Tour, but we also learned about personal growth. Some mornings, we had classes on things like leadership or how electric cooperatives are run. We learned about how we can make a difference in our lives when we come home, how to ask good questions to the members of Congress we met with and how electric cooperatives are run with the people they serve in mind.

We got to do hands-on learning during these classes too. In the first class, we were given a scenario and had to come to a consensus as a group to decide what option is best. In the class on leadership, we wrote plans on paper that would help us make a difference in our community with activities that are important to us, and then we got to share them with someone and exchange contact information to hold each other accountable. These classes sprouted curiosity and eagerness to learn throughout the delegates, and they were a cool part of the trip.

While the history and growth were incredible, the Youth Tour wouldn’t have been the same without all the amazing youth and chaperones who made an amazing trip into an amazing experience. I made so many friendships that a year ago I never imagined I’d have today, and I’m so thankful for each one of them. There was a strong sense of community throughout the whole delegation. Meeting people from all around the country and hearing about their life and stories was a powerful experience to make me realize how many students like me there are all around the country who each have a voice and opinion. One more super cool thing from the trip was seeing a panda bear at the zoo. It was really big and it was eating bamboo which was adorable.

In the end, the Youth Tour was one of the most awesome experiences I’ve had and I will always cherish the memories I made and the things I learned, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to go on the Youth Tour.