Youth Programs | FreeState Electric Cooperative

FreeState Electric Cooperative invests in our youth with opportunities that are designed to reflect the realities of our society and its preference for dynamic, personal interactions. In today's professional world, employers and thought leaders want to see presenters who make a connection with the audience while communicating a message. These experiences are all-expenses-paid and will truly be the experiences of a lifetime for area youth.

FreeState will sponsor two youth program trips in 2021.

One student will have an opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. June 17-24, 2021, and one student will experience Steamboat Springs, CO at Cooperative Leadership Camp July 16-22, 2021

Any high school junior living in the FreeState Electric Cooperative territory, who has a parent or guardian that is a member of the cooperative is eligible.

Who Is Eligible?
Any high school junior whose parents or guardians are members of FreeState Electric Cooperative, living in the service territory, is eligible to apply for these all-expense paid opportunities. FreeState Electric Cooperative will sponsor two students to Washington, D.C., and two students to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

How to apply
Visit our Youth Program Application Page for details on what is required to apply. Each student will need to fill out an application and provide a short essay that can be completed and uploaded right on the website!

Students who are interested in applying and have more questions can contact the Youth Program Coordinator, Sarah Farlee at 1-800-794-1989 or email for more information.

Youth Program Official Rules

Apply Now

Youth Tour

Each year cooperatives select area youth for this opportunity as part of our strong commitment to the community and our mission to inspire the future generations to become leaders.

This trip opens the eyes of many students to future possibilities in leadership roles while building lifelong friendships. The delegates also visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, attended a professional baseball game at the Nationals Stadium, and had a laugh at the production of Shear Madness at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The delegates also attended the NRECA Youth Day that brought together all 1,700 youth from 43 states to hear speakers.

Youth Tour 2021 is scheduled for June 17 to 24, 2021.

FreeState will sponsor ONE area student for this life-changing trip!

CYLC

Cooperative Leadership Camp
At the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp, the campers participated in daily membership meetings where they established committees and elected a general manager and board of directors. Campers also had time to enjoy area activities including visits to Fish Creek Falls and Steamboat Springs, river rafting, and participating in camp activities such as volleyball, swimming, and a talent show.

The youth learned about the workings of electric cooperatives through a variety of activities: Yampa Valley Electric’s linemen led a high voltage safety demonstration, campers competed in building a model transmission line out of craft supplies, and they toured the Trapper Mine and Craig Power Plant.

Leadership Camp is scheduled for July 16 to 22, 2021.

FreeState will sponsor ONE area student for this life-changing trip!

Alumni Stories

Read stories from some of our program alumni!

Where are they now? H ow Youth Tour Changes Lives

Where are they now? H ow Camp Changes Lives

Read stories from our 2019 youth program participants

FreeState exposes youth to co-op and careers

Elevated and Inspired Leadership in D.C.

Camp Summary

We congratulate Emma Coit, McLouth, Mary Kate Gerber, Silver Lake, Samual Manus, Tonganoxie, and Christopher Raithel, McLouth for being selected to represent the cooperative.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced NRECA and regional groups to make the tough decision to cancel both the Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. and the Cooperative Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

It was determined it would be in the best interests of the student winners and chaperones to cancel.

The delegates representing FreeState, although disappointed, were granted a scholarship in place of the trip in 2020.

The safety of our students and chaperones is our top priority. If the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp organizers feel that travel is unsafe due to concerns with the coronavirus (or any other acts of terrorism, disaster, civil disorder, or curtailment of transportation facilities), then the trip will be canceled.