Turn Youth Tour Moments Into Meaningful Content

NRECA’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour 2025 may be over, but its impact is only beginning to unfold.

Your co-op just invested in the future of its community– and that story deserves to be told.

Your delegates may be unpacking their bags, but they’re also unpacking life-changing memories—of meeting their representatives, forming friendships with students from across the country, and seeing what leadership looks like up close. These aren’t just personal milestones; they’re moments your co-op can share with the entire community. Now is the perfect time to capture those stories, amplify their impact, and inspire the next group of students who might one day walk the same place of history.

As someone who once participated in Youth Tour (shoutout to Kauai Island Utiltiy Cooperative), I know firsthand how transformative this experience can be. I also know that the storytelling doesn’t end once the delegates return home– and neither should the communications strategy.

While the trip itself may last just a week, the impact reaches far beyond. For co-op communicators, the work doesn’t end when the applications are in and the plane takes off. In many ways, it’s just beginning. What happens on Youth Tour shouldn’t stay in D.C.—it should be seen, shared, and celebrated back home.

Here are three ways your co-op can shine a light on your delegates’ journey—while planting seeds for next year’s outreach.

Let the Photos Do the Talking

Every co-op communicator knows that photos are more than filler. They’re fuel. When it comes to Youth Tour, those snapshots portray pride, progress, and possibility.

Whether it’s a group photo in front of the Capitol, a candid moment during a rally, or a shot of students locking arms after a long day of sightseeing, these images reflect far more than just where your delegates went. They show who they’re becoming– and they give your community a front-row seat to that transformation.

Creating a dedicated photo gallery on your website is one of the easiest and most effective ways to honor the experience. It allows members, parents, and future applicants to immerse themselves in the trip and see the impact for themselves.

Kiamichi Electric Cooperatve’s Youth Programs gallery is a strong example of this in action. Their visualized page elevates the student experience and keeps it accessible long after the trip ends. It’s organized, celebratory, and serves as a timeless resource. When next year’s applicants land on your site, this kind of page can spark instant curiosity—and maybe even a little FOMO (fear of missing out).

Don’t let those powerful photos stay stuck in a social media feed or staff inbox. Give them a permanent home on your website, where they can continue telling the story for months—or even years—to come.

Share the Story Behind the Snapshots

Every strong photo deserves a strong story to go with it.

Powerful’s News Releases app makes it easy to share these stories—before, during, and after the trip. At the start of the season, your co-op can post announcements to let students know applications are open. Once delegates are selected, a follow-up story helps recognize those students and introduce them to your community. And when the trip wraps up, it’s the perfect time to post a recap—or better yet, a reflection written by the delegates themselves.

Many co-ops are already putting this into practice. Midland Power Cooperative, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, Umatilla Electric Cooperative, and Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives have all used their News Releases apps to publish timely, student-focused articles.

The storytelling doesn’t have to stop with your staff. Encourage your delegates to write reflections or short essays once they return home. Personal essays about who they met, what they learned, or how the experience changed their perspective can help future applicants picture themselves in those same shoes.

As a result, these stories become long-term assets. Archived on your website, they serve as real-life proof of your co-op’s values and provide a trusted source of information and inspiration for next year’s class of applicants.

Promote, Celebrate, & Inspire

As delegates return home and the buzz starts to build—through social media posts, word of mouth, and conversations in the community—your site may start seeing more visits from potential future applicants. Students will want to know what the trip was all about. Parents will want to know how to get their kids involved. Your homepage is the perfect place to meet that interest head-on.

Instead of limiting Youth Tour to a seasonal news post or buried subpage, consider giving it a dedicated section on your homepage—something visible, accessible, and engaging year-round. Even when applications aren’t open, the visibility of Youth Tour on your homepage helps reinforce your co-op’s commitment to developing future leaders.

Sam Houston Electric Cooperative utilizes Powerful’s Laurelhurst promotional blueprint to do exactly that. Their Youth Tour section includes a bold photo, a headline, a brief description, and a call-to-action button that links to an internal page with more information. It’s not where the whole story is told—it’s where curiosity begins.

This kind of homepage placement is more than just decoration. It builds credibility, maintains awareness, and gives Youth Tour the consistent visibility—especially as interest peaks during and after the trip. Once the next application window opens, you’ve already laid the groundwork for students who are ready to say, “I want to go next!”

Keep the Momentum Going

Not every student will remember the exact date they stood at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, but they’ll remember how they felt: empowered, included, and inspired.

What happens after Youth Tour is just as important as what happens during it. The reflections, relationships, and renewed sense of purpose your delegates return home with aren’t meant to be boxed up with souvenirs—they’re meant to be shared.

For co-ops, this is a chance to lead by example. By making room on your website to showcase student experiences, highlight what Youth Tour stands for, and keep the program visible year-round, you’re not just documenting a trip—you’re reinforcing the cooperative principles.

I’ve lived that journey. I was once one of those wide-eyed students walking the halls of the Capitol, taking it all in, and wondering what it all meant for me. It meant more than I realized at the time—and I wouldn’t be where I am now without it. That’s the kind of impact we’re talking about. That’s the kind of impact you have a chance to share.

So while the students may have returned home and the lanyards may be tucked away, your Youth Tour story is far from over. Leverage your website to make sure your community sees what’s possible… because the next great delegate might already be looking.