Youth Trips

Washington Youth Tour & R. D. Bennett Scholarship

High school juniors: The Washington Youth Tour was held June 14–19, 2026. Over 1,600 high school juniors from across the country traveled to Washington, DC and spent their time meeting lawmakers and touring all the sights. South Carolina’s electric co-ops covered. round-trip plane tickets, tours and meals. In other words, it was all free!

To compete for the scholarship, each Washington Youth Tour winner submitted an essay. The competition is based on essays and participation during the trip. Trip chaperones judge the essays. S.A.T. scores, grade point average, class standing, and other honors are not be considered.

The application deadline for 2026 was 11:59 pm on Monday, February 9th, 2026.
Applications for the Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit are accepted beginning in October or November and end with a February deadline. Check back each year for exact dates.

Cooperative Youth Summit: State House Trip

High school sophomores: It’s the Cooperative Youth Summit, which was held July 13–16, 2026. Those students selected experience South Carolina’s capital like never before, touring the State House, meeting lawmakers and seeing how co-ops are preparing for our state’s energy future. Plus, there’s plenty of fun with visits to escape rooms and more. This trip is always free!

The application deadline for 2026 was 11:59 pm on Monday, February 9th, 2026.
Applications for the Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit are accepted beginning in October or November and end with a February deadline. Check back each year for exact dates.

2027 Application Coming Soon!

Scenes from the 2026 Youth Tour & Cooperative Youth Summit

A group of people walks along a riverside path toward a large neoclassical building across the water at sunset.

A large group of people in formal attire posing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building.

A man in a dark suit addresses a large group of young women in colorful dresses gathered on the steps of a grand neoclassical building.

The United States Capitol dome with a flag against a bright blue sky.

A tall obelisk rises beside a circular fountain with water jets in a paved plaza, with columns and trees in the background under a blue sky.

Two men in suits stand on a lawn in front of a neoclassical building with tall columns.

Diverse group of participants seated at tables in a conference room, with a man in the foreground raising his hand.

A group of people in bright orange shirts listen to a man wearing a green hard hat under a covered outdoor area with trucks.

2026_CYS_Wednesday_05_Visit_with_SC_Gov_Henry_McMaster-4L4A0325

A diverse group of adults and children posing for a group photo in front of a light blue wall with event logos.

Two workers wearing hard hats stand in a bucket lift on a flat rooftop, pointing toward something in the distance.

A group of people in purple shirts pose with cartoon character cutouts in the Escapology lobby.

Two construction workers wearing hard hats and safety harnesses stand on a construction site.

Smiling woman with braided hair in a light blue top talks with others at an indoor event.

Two young men in business attire stand indoors in a richly decorated, chandelier-lit hall.

A group of people gathers around a desk as a woman signs documents in a formal office.

A large group of people in formal attire posing on the steps of a stately building with columns.

Two men in suits speak near a podium in a conference room while an audience sits at tables and a presentation screen is visible in the background.

Two people wearing hard hats and safety harnesses stand in a white lift bucket against a blue sky.

A young man in a coral shirt types on a laptop at a table during a group workshop.

Group of seven smiling people wearing pink t‑shirts posing together in a shopping mall corridor with storefronts in the background.

Youth Trips

Scenes from the 2026 Youth Tour & Cooperative Youth Summit

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