Orange County REMC has held a long tradition of helping shape the leaders of tomorrow. The hunt is currently on to find high school juniors to travel to Washington D.C. as part of the Rural Electric Youth Tour.

The REMC is also accepting applications from sixth grade students who want to attend Touchstone Energy Camp at Camp Tecumseh, in Brookston, IN.

Youth Tour to Washington D.C.

Youth Tour was established with one thought in mind – to inspire our next generation of leaders. Since 1964, more than 50,000 young Americans have taken advantage of this special opportunity offered by their electric cooperative.

It all takes place in June, when hundreds of electric co-ops across the country send participants to Washington, D.C. for a chance to learn about the cooperative business model and a full week of sightseeing.

While in D.C., participants have a chance to meet with their elected officials and discuss the issues that are important back home. Without a doubt, Youth Tour has grown into an invaluable program that gives young Americans an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

In February, Orange County REMC will begin the application review process to select local students to attend Youth Tour 2017. Youth Tour is so much more than a sightseeing trip. Students have repeatedly shared that this experience has helped them grow into successful professionals. It has also benefited our local communities. Youth Tour participants return home with a deeper understanding and skill-set of what it takes to be a leader, and as a result, they put these skills to use right here in our community. If you are a high school junior interested in traveling to Washington, D.C. to experience the trip of a lifetime, please contact the REMC for more information.

The deadline to apply is February 10, 2017.

Touchstone Energy Camp

Over the past 16 years, this unique event has educated over 1,000 sixth grade students about how to stay safe around electricity, while also providing campers a chance to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor camp activities. Orange County REMC will once again sponsor students to attend Touchstone Energy® Camp June 7-10, at Camp Tecumseh in Brookston, IN.

Campers will enjoy traditional outdoor camp activities, such as horseback riding, zip lining and swimming, while also participating in interactive lessons about safe electricity, working together in teams in a hands-on equipment connecting simulation, and wiring a table top demo to light up a bulb. Plus, they’ll enjoy the bird’s eye view of their friends during bucket truck rides.

Students who are currently in the sixth grade (going into seventh grade in the fall of 2017) are eligible to attend should fill out an application and return it by February 10, 2017.

Operation Round Up Scholarships

Orange County REMC offers local seniors the opportunity to win one of six $750 scholarships.

The purpose of the scholarship program is to recognize the academic and community achievements of outstanding young people and assist them in developing an understanding of community issues. One scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from each of the schools in the REMC territory (Paoli, Springs Valley, Orleans, Mitchell, Crawford and West Washington.)

An applicant’s parent, legal guardian, or primary relative must be a member of Orange County REMC, participating in the Operation Round Up program when the scholarship application is judged. Applicants must graduate by the end of June 2017.

Applicants must be accepted into an accredited Indiana College or Indiana Trade School. The scholarship recipient must hold incoming freshman status and NOT have previously attended college.

Deadline for the scholarship program is also February 10, 2017.

Applications and eligibility requirements for these programs are available at www.myremc.coop or by contacting Orange County REMC at 812-865- 2229 or 888-337- 5900 toll free.