Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

All the Details

Iowa Youth Tour

June 14–20, 2026
Orientation: Evening of June 14

Questions?

Reach out to:
📧 Shelly York – syork@iowarec.org
📧 Thresa Stone – tstone@iowarec.org

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Washington, D.C.! You’ll explore historic landmarks, meet students from across the country, and represent Iowa’s electric cooperatives with pride.

Orientation Details

📍 Holiday Inn - Airport
6111 Fleur Dr., Des Moines
🕕 6:00 p.m. – Orientation begins
🕡 6:30 p.m. – Parents dismissed
🍔 Dinner: Hamburgers & Pulled Pork Sandwiches
🎉 Ice Breakers & Team Building
🥤 Join the Snack Cooperative – Membership: $1
Punch cards available for $5 each

🧳 Bring your luggage to the meeting room
🆔 Bring your REAL ID-compliant photo ID (check for a star in the upper right corner)

Important Travel Info

✈️ Departure: Early morning flight on June 15
🕒 Wake-up call: 3:30 a.m. (yes, really!)
✈️ Return: June 20 to Des Moines International Airport
📍 Meeting Point: Baggage claim or concourse before security

💡 Travel Tip: Use the airplane bathroom before landing in St. Louis to make your connection smoother!

Where You’ll Stay

🏨 Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD

Shared rooms with another Iowa student
Hair dryer, iron, fridge in each room
No access to gym or pool – no need to pack a swimsuit
Be courteous to other guests – avoid crowding near escalators

Transportation in D.C.

🚌 Chartered bus with Rob Taylor, our longtime driver and Maryland State Trooper

Safety & Behavior Expectations

Your safety is our top priority. Adult chaperones will be with you throughout the trip. You are representing Iowa’s electric cooperatives, and we expect respectful, responsible behavior.

🚫 Rules that must be followed:

No smoking, vaping, alcohol, or drugs
Stay with the group and at the hotel unless on planned activities
No visiting friends or relatives
Be in your assigned room after curfew

🔒 Curfew: Listed on your schedule

Room checks nightly
Lock and bolt your door after check
Security guards on each floor overnight

🚫 No Purpling!

Boys’ rooms = blue
Girls’ rooms = pink
No mixing – no exceptions

📱 Phones: Bring your cell phone, but please avoid calls during tours and memorial visits
📞 Emergency Contact: Shelly York – 515-321-4276

Security Protocol

In case of a security event:

Follow directions from chaperones, police, or authorities
Return to the pickup location or hotel as safely as possible
Notify chaperones immediately
We’ll communicate via the Youth Tour app messaging system

🕵️‍♀️ Trust your instincts – if something feels off, speak up!

Commitment to Community

During orientation, we’ll support the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight by writing appreciation notes to veterans. These letters mean the world to them – we’re proud to be part of this meaningful project.

📱 There’s an App for That!

We’ve partnered with Yapp to provide a free mobile app for Iowa Youth Tour participants! Stay connected and informed with everything you need—right from your phone.

With the app, you can:

View the full event schedule
Learn about speakers
See cooperative and sponsor lists
Access important updates

To get started:

Visit https://my.yapp.us/IAYT2026 on your device
Follow the instructions on the page
You’ll be prompted to install Yapp from the app store (if you don’t have it already)

🧳 What About Luggage?

Bring your luggage to the meeting room for orientation.
Checked bag: One bag under 50 lbs. Total dimensions (L+W+H) must not exceed 62 inches.
Carry-on: One small item like a backpack, purse, or camera bag.
Prohibited items: No scissors, pocketknives, nail files, or nail clippers in carry-on.

Liquid rules (TSA):

Max 3.4 oz per container
All items must fit in one quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag
Bag must be removed and placed in a bin for screening

👉 Visit TSA’s prohibited items page before packing.

Tips:

Remove coats, jackets, and shoes at security
Pack metal-buckle belts in checked luggage
Label all checked bags with your name and address

🎒 What’s in Your Swag Bag?

Each delegate will receive a backpack filled with:

Refillable water bottle
Rain poncho
Hand sanitizer
Band-aids
Kleenex

🍎 Snack Bags?

We’ll provide snack bags on travel days.

If you have dietary needs or allergies, we’ll have special snack bags just for you.

💵 How Much Spending Money Do You Need?

All major expenses—meals, lodging, travel, admissions—are covered.
Bring a small amount of money for:

Souvenirs
Extra snacks

🧼 What Personal Items Should You Bring?

Toiletries, cosmetics, and medications
Stamps, pens/pencils, comfort items
Extra glasses or contacts
Sunglasses, sunscreen, watch
Small umbrella (we also provide a poncho)
Enough prescription medication for the entire trip

👕 What Clothes Should You Bring?

You’re representing Iowa and its electric cooperatives—dress appropriately!

Daily attire:

Youth Tour shirt (provided)
Nice jeans, shorts (3” inseam or longer), capris, or skirts
Athletic shorts are OK if modest
No spandex shorts, short shorts, or distressed clothing
No political, suggestive, alcohol, or tobacco-related prints

Capitol Hill Day (Wednesday):

Matching polos (provided)
Khaki pants, skirt, or nice shorts/capris

Evenings:

Bring a jacket or sweater

Footwear:

Comfortable walking shoes are a must
Flip-flops are allowed but not ideal for long walks
Recommended: sneakers, Keens, Chacos, Birkenstocks
We’ll have bandages available for blisters

Bonus Tip:
Start walking regularly before the trip to prepare for 6–10 miles a day during Youth Tour!

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who Are the Chaperones?

Meet your amazing Youth Tour team:

Clayton Merritt – Youth Tour alum (2012), intern (2019), and returning chaperone since 2022; nurse practitioner
Thresa Stone – Assistant Youth Tour Director, IAEC employee, and trip planner extraordinaire
Shelly York – Tour Director and lead chaperone; 35+ years at IAEC and leading Youth Tour since 2010

✅ All chaperones have passed background checks to ensure a safe and high-quality experience.

🌽 State Pins & Corn Necklaces

Each Iowa Youth Tour delegate will receive corn necklaces and Iowa pins to trade with other states’ delegates—a fun and long-standing tradition that helps students connect, engage, and represent their home state.

✅ Pin Trading Guidelines

Approved Trading Locations: Trading is only allowed in designated Youth Tour spaces at the hotel:

Camp Co-op
Game Room
Youth Tour Store
Official all-state events (e.g., Youth Day, Co-op Connections Night)

While Touring D.C.: Trading is permitted only when appropriate and approved by chaperones.
🚫 No trading at solemn or sensitive locations such as:

Arlington National Cemetery
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Chaperones will clearly indicate “no trading” zones.

No Money Allowed: Pins and corn necklaces may not be sold or exchanged for money. This ensures fair participation for all delegates.

You May Trade:

Youth Tour pins
State pins
Youth Tour merchandise or state-related items

You May NOT Trade:

Clothing items (including state-issued t-shirts)

❓ FAQs

Can I bring pins and necklaces on the plane?
Yes! They’re allowed in both checked and carry-on luggage. TSA may inspect them if needed.

What should I do with my pins after the trip?
Display them on a lanyard, backpack, shadow box—or even your graduation cap!

Do I have to trade pins?
Nope! If you choose not to participate, please return unused pins to your Youth Tour Director for future use.

🥨 Snack Cooperative

During Iowa Youth Tour 2026, students will form and run their own cooperative to provide snacks throughout the trip. This hands-on project teaches the principles of cooperative business and member ownership.

🛠 How It Works:

Students elect a co-op board and manager
The co-op operates during the trip, offering snacks at reasonable prices
On Thursday, the co-op will hold an annual meeting to report on operations and officially dissolve
Any remaining funds (“margins”) may be returned to members as capital credits/patronage

📋 Action Items for Students:

By May 17:

Rank your interest in co-op roles: Snack Co-op Roles Form
Suggest snacks for inventory: Snack Suggestions Form

📱 Stay Connected on Social Media

Facebook:
Like our page to see all the trip photos!
🔗 Iowa Youth Tour Facebook

X (formerly Twitter):
Follow us @IowaYouthTour

Instagram:
Follow us @iowayouthtour

Iowa Electric Cooperative Living Magazine

Want to be featured in the Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine? Toward the end of Youth Tour, you’ll have a chance to submit a quote about your experience. If the editor selects your quote, you’ll earn $25!

Have a great photo from the trip? Submit it for consideration for the cover of the magazine and you could earn $100!

Youth Leadership Council (YLC)

Each state participating in Youth Tour selects one student to join the Youth Leadership Council (YLC)—a national group of outstanding young leaders.

About the YLC

Originally created in 1976 as the Youth Consulting Board, the YLC was restructured in 1998 to focus on leadership, advocacy, and public speaking. Coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the YLC offers workshops on:

The cooperative business model
Grassroots advocacy
Community service
Careers in public service

Each YLC member writes and delivers a speech about Youth Tour. One student is selected as the national spokesperson and presents at the NRECA Annual Meeting.

What Does Iowa’s YLC Representative Do?

Returns to Washington, D.C. from July 20-24 for advanced leadership training and speech coaching.
Participates in virtual meetings with other YLC members.
Attends PowerXchange 2027 (NRECA's Annual Meeting) in San Diego, *DATE TBD*—an all-expense-paid trip!
Receives a $1,000 college scholarship from the Pioneers Trust Fund.
Presents their YLC speech at the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives’ Annual Meeting in December.

Shelly York, Iowa’s Youth Tour Director, will accompany the Iowa YLC delegate to Nashville.

How to Apply

Deadline: May XX, 2026
Application Form: Click here to apply
Video Submission: Record a short video answering:
“How does your local electric cooperative demonstrate the Cooperative Principles in your community?”
Upload your video here: Dropbox Submission Link

What’s a “Blue Shirt”?

“Blue Shirts” are former Youth Tour delegates who return as staff assistants. They wear blue shirts, help chaperones, and work for NRECA. Most are college students and serve as a helpful resource throughout the trip.

Security Screenings at Government Buildings

You’ll go through security screenings similar to airport procedures when visiting places like:

U.S. Capitol & Visitor Center
Congressional office buildings
Holocaust Museum
Smithsonian museums

Prohibited Items Include:

Oversized bags (over 18” x 14” x 8.5”)
Weapons, knives, pepper spray, and firearms
Liquids and food (some exceptions for staff)
Sharp objects like knitting needles and box cutters
Explosives, fireworks, and aerosol containers

Tip: Avoid bringing a bag if you don’t need one—it speeds up the process!

Reminder: Goofing off in security lines is discouraged. It slows things down and can irritate security personnel.

So, What Are the Rules?

You were selected to represent your electric cooperative on the 2024 Iowa Youth Tour of Washington, D.C. because of your leadership, character, and commitment to excellence. With that honor comes responsibility.

These rules are designed to ensure everyone’s safety, maintain a respectful environment, and help make this trip unforgettable—for all the right reasons.

General Expectations

Stay in groups of at least three at all times.
Speak up if something doesn’t seem right—tell a chaperone or authority.
Be on time. We run on a tight schedule and delays affect the whole group.
Participate fully. You must attend all scheduled activities—no exceptions.
Wear your name tag whenever you're outside your hotel room.
Limit phone use during tours, memorial visits, and group activities.

Hotel Rules

Be in your room by curfew. No leaving without permission.
Room checks happen nightly; wake-up calls every morning.
Only same-gender Youth Tour students may visit your room.
Respect your roommates—stay quiet after curfew and keep the room clean.
You’re responsible for any damage to your hotel room.
No running or slamming doors in hotel hallways.

Safety & Conduct

You must remain at the hotel unless participating in planned activities.
No visiting friends or relatives, shopping, or attending outside events.
Do not invite anyone to meet up with you in D.C.
Absolutely no smoking, vaping, alcohol, or drugs.
Keep the bus clean and quiet—respect the space and others.
You’re responsible for your own belongings.
Be kind. No insensitive or disrespectful remarks.
Use good judgment and be aware of your surroundings.
Scooters are not allowed—do not rent or ride them.
Follow all security rules at government buildings and attractions.

Violation of these rules may result in being sent home at your family’s expense.

Social Media Guidelines

Social media is powerful—and permanent. As a representative of your cooperative, IAEC, and NRECA, you are expected to use it responsibly.

Key Guidelines

Think before you post. What you share can impact your reputation and future.
Be authentic. Represent yourself and Youth Tour positively.
Stay respectful. No offensive, inappropriate, or misleading content.
Never impersonate others.
Engage thoughtfully. Respect differing opinions and promote civil discussion.
Know the rules of each platform you use.
Ask a chaperone if you're unsure about posting something.

Inappropriate use of social media may result in:

Removal of posts
Review of your accounts by chaperones
Dismissal from Youth Tour at your family’s expense

These rules are non-negotiable and consequences depend on the severity of misuse.

A Few Last Tips for the Trip

Hydrate! We’ll have coolers of water on the bus—drink often.
- Pro tip: Drink a gallon of water daily for three days before the trip.
Get rest before the trip. Days run from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.—you’ll be busy!
Tell a chaperone if you feel sick. Nurses are on call 24/7.
Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking—a lot.
Know your number. It’s in the app and used for headcounts.
Look both ways before crossing streets—D.C. traffic is no joke.

Questions?

Reach out anytime: