2026 Washington Youth Tour

 

Valley TeleCom is participating in the Washington Youth Tour sending two delegates to Washington, DC on an all-expense 5-day trip to our Nation’s Capital to visit historic sites, national landmarks and the opportunity meet their peers in planned student activities.

How To Enter:

You can choose to write and essay or produce a video submission.
Click the button to download an application and email your submission to: heather.floyd@teamvtg.net

 

Essay Option

Write a 500 word essay on the topic “If you could invent one piece of technology to solve a problem in your community, what would it be and why?”

Video Option

Produce a 1-2 minute original video on the topic “If you could invent one piece of technology to solve a problem in your community, what would it be and why?” 
The video should be HD quality (720p or better) in horizontal format. The video will need to be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo.

Eligibility

Join FRS for our Youth Tour

Each year, 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 government figures as well as a forum for them to meet and interact with their peers from other rural communities.

Who Can Attend?

NTCA member companies sponsor a student from their local community to attend the tour. FRS leaves the selection of the participant entirely up to the NTCA member partner. Students must be aged 16, or 17 at the time of the youth tour. The FRS Youth Tour is a great opportunity for all students. It has been a transformational trip for many of our past participants.

Why do we send students on the tour?

The Youth Tour is a unique experience for students and chaperones:
• Educates students about the policy making process through meetings with Congressional and FCC staff members.
• Students gain insight into the challenges of providing quality broadband in their rural communities.
• An opportunity to visit famous historical sites including the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon, and Arlington National Cemetery.
• Allows students to meet youth from rural areas across the country, develop leadership skills, and help point their communities toward the future.

How many students can Valley send?

Each NTCA member company may select 2 students from their community to attend .

Who will be supervising students on this trip?

Students will be supervised by FRS staff, adult chaperones, and NTCA employees. 

How will students 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. 

What activities will students participate in?

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.