Each year, The Foundation for Rural Services (FRS) hosts the Youth Tour for high school students from across rural America.  The Youth Tour is a chance for students to visit our nation’s capital and learn about rural broadband, share their community’s story with key legislative, regulatory and governmental figures as well as a forum for them to meet and interact with their peers from other rural communities.

Apply below to attend the 2024 Youth Tour and be sponsored by HCTC.

 

Why Attend A Youth Tour?

• To learn about the policy making process through meetings with Congressional and FCC staff members.
• To gain insight into the challenges of providing quality broadband in their rural communities.
• To visit famous historical sites including the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery.
• To meet youth from rural areas across the country, develop leadership skills and help point their communities toward the future.

Students must be aged 15, 16, or 17 years old at the time of the youth tour.

 

Who will be supervising the students on this trip?
Students will be supervised by FRS staff, adult chaperones, and NTCA employee volunteers.
 
How are rooms assigned?
Rooms are assigned randomly by FRS staff. There will be two students of the same gender per room.
 
How will my child get around Washington, D.C.?
Bus and shuttle transportation will be provided for all Youth Tour students and chaperones. This includes, but is not limited to: getting picked up from the airport, transportation to and from the hotel, touring D.C., and being dropped off at the airport at the conclusion of the trip.
 
I’m a student and nervous about the trip because I’ve never traveled by myself. Is this the right trip for me?
The FRS Youth Tour is a great opportunity for all students. It has been a transformational trip for many of our past participants. Since students and chaperones are following the same itinerary, it is likely for you to be on the same flight with someone else who is attending Youth Tour.
 
My child has a medical condition. Should they attend the tour?
FRS welcomes all students. Please indicate all health concerns, medical conditions, allergies, and dietary restrictions on the medical forms you are required to fill out for your child to attend the Youth Tour.
 
What activities will students do?
There is a full itinerary of activities for students to socialize with their peers, learn about rural broadband, and explore our nation’s capital. While on the Youth Tour, students and chaperones will:

• Meet with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congressional staff.
• Tour famous historical sites and monuments like Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the World War II Memorial.
• Visit Smithsonian Museums.
• Attend a play at the Kennedy Center.
• Build relationships with peers through a variety of activities.

View the 2023 FRS Youth Tour Itinerary for a detailed schedule of events and activities we participated in last spring.

Will my child need additional spending money?
The Youth Tour is an all expenses paid trip; however, they will need spending money if they want to purchase things like souvenirs.
* Additional spending money is not required.

You can learn more here: www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/youth-tour