2026 New Mexico Youth Tour
June 15 - 20, 2026
Welcome New Mexico Youth Tour Delegates
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. for a week in June every year since the late 1950s. Students apply and are selected for this program by their local electric cooperative. We believe that students should see their nation’s capital up close, learn about the political process and interact with their elected officials.
Students gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as a citizen by meeting their Senators and Representatives. While student groups are organized at the state level, they all come together for Youth Day, where they get to meet each other and hear featured speakers who provide insight to the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities. Congratulations on being selected!
We hope you enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
YOUTH TOUR AGENDA
JUNE 15-20, 2026
THIS IS A WORKING ITINERARY AND TIMES & DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026
9:00am – 10:00am
Check in & Packet Pick-up (breakfast snacks provided)
Sheraton Albuquerque Airport
10:00am – 10:30am
NMRECA - Introductions, Code of Conduct, and Orientation
10:30am – 11:15am
Shuttles to ABQ International Airport
12:34pm (flight 1)
Depart United Airlines Flight #3441 to Washington, DC (IAD)
8 Delegates and 2 Chaperones
1:33pm (flight 2)
Depart United Airlines Flight #2254 to Washington, DC (IAD)
42 Delegates and 3 Chaperones
Arrive 4:49pm (flight 1)
Layover in Chicago – Depart 6:12pm
Arrive 3:03pm (flight 2)
Layover in Denver – Depart 3:50pm
9:22pm (flights 1&2)
Arrive at IAD, Claim Luggage, Load Shuttle Dulles, VA
Dinner TBD (boxed on shuttle, airplane, or at airport)
10:15pm
Room Assignments and Check-In
10:45pm
Room Checks and Lights Out
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026
6:30am - 7:00am
Wake Up Calls
8:00am - 8:30am
Breakfast - Potomac District Cafe & Market
8:30am
NRECA Youth Tour Greeting – Wrist Bands and App Check-In
8:45am
Load Shuttle - Depart to Monument Tour
9:15am
Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, MLK Jr. Memorials
12:00pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to Lunch
12:15pm
Scatter Lunch - $20.00 Cash Each (Potomac Yard area)
1:15pm
Load Shuttle – Depart to Mount Vernon
2:00pm
Mount Vernon, Washington’s Home, Plantation, and Grounds
3:45pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to World War II Memorial
4:15pm
World War II Memorial
4:40pm
YLC Candidate Presentations (shaded area near memorial)
5:10pm
Load Shuttle - Depart for Sunset Parade
6:00pm
Boxed Dinner at Sunset Parade
7:00pm
Sunset Parade at USMC Marine Corps War Memorial
8:15pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to Gaylord National Resort
8:45pm
Youth Tour Camp Coop (store, game room) or Down Time
10:00pm
Room Checks and Lights Out
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026
6:00am - 6:30am
Wake Up Calls
7:00am - 8:00am
NRECA Coop101: Advocacy in Action – Capitol Hill Prep
8:00am - 8:45am
Breakfast - Potomac District Cafe & Market
8:45am
Load Shuttle - Depart to Lafayette Square
9:15am
Lafayette Square & White House
9:45am
Load Shuttle to Holocaust Museum
10:00am
Holocaust Museum
12:15pm
Lunch on the National Mall - $20.00 Cash Each
Free Range: Time to Visit Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall
• National Museum of African American History (time entry 2:15pm)
• National Museum of American History
• Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Museum of Natural History
• American Art Museum & Renwick Gallery
• National Museum of Asian Art
• National Portrait Gallery
• National Air and Space Museum (time entry 1:00pm)
• Many more museums on/near National Mall (some require admission fee)
3:45pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to Gaylord to Change Clothes
5:15pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to Wharf DC Pier 4 (Maine Ave. SW)
6:15pm - 9:30pm
Board Potomac River Cruise – Includes Dinner & Dance
9:30pm
Load Shuttle – Depart to Gaylord National Resort
10:00pm
Room Checks and Lights Out
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2026
6:30am - 7:00am
Wake Up Calls
7:30am - 8:00am
Breakfast - Potomac District Cafe & Market
8:00am
Load Shuttle - Depart to Lincoln, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Memorials
8:30am
Lincoln, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Memorials
9:45am
Load Shuttle – National Archives
10:00am
National Archives then WALK to Carmines
11:15am
Lunch at Carmine’s Italian Restaurant
12:20pm
Load Shuttle – Depart to Arlington National Cemetery
12:40pm
Arlington National Cemetery (Check-In with Security at Gate and Load Trolley)
• Kennedy Family Gravesite
• Check-In with Tomb Guards, Sentinels
• Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns
• Arlington House – Robert E. Lee Memorial
1:15pm
Wreath Laying Ceremony
2:00pm
Load Shuttle – Depart to Washington Monument
2:30pm
Washington Monument Tour TBD
4:00pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to Gaylord National Resort
5:30pm
NRECA Youth Day Dinner
7:30pm
NRECA Youth Day Event
10:00pm
Room Checks and Lights Out
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026
6:30am - 7:00am
Wake Up Calls
7:30am - 8:00am
Breakfast - Potomac District Cafe & Market
8:00am
Load Shuttle - Depart to US Capitol Building
8:30am
U.S. Capitol Building - Youth Tour Delegate Photos
10:30am TBD
Group Appointments New Mexico Congressional Delegation
12:30pm
Lunch - U.S. Capitol Café - $20.00 Cash Each
1:30pm
U.S. Capitol Building Tour (No food or drink)
3:00pm
Change Clothes – Load Shuttle to Ford’s Theater
3:30pm
Ford's Theatre & Peterson House
Optional – Souvenir Shopping
5:30pm
Dinner - Hard Rock Café
6:30pm
Load Shuttle - Depart to Gaylord National Resort
7:00pm
NRECA Coop Connections Fair - Dance and Down Time
Optional – National Harbor Tour (Ferris wheel)
10:30pm
Room Checks and Lights Out
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2026
4:45am - 5:00am
Wake Up Calls
5:20am
Hotel Check Out and Load Luggage on Shuttle
Breakfast (boxed burritos from Potomac or at airport)
5:30am
Load Shuttle - Depart to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
6:15am
Arrive at IAD, Check Luggage, and TSA Security Screening
8:15am (EST)
Depart United Airlines Flight #2768
Arrive 10:10am (MST)
Layover in Denver – Depart 11:15am
12:37pm (MST)
Arrive ABQ and Collect Luggage
1:00pm
Release Youth Tour Delegates to Family Members and Coop Chaperones
Itinerary Notes
This continues to be a working itinerary; open to timing and routing adjustments during the tour by the group’s tour guide and motorcoach driver in consultation with the NMRECA group leader.
Youth Tour Coordinator
Talia Storch - NMRECA
tstorch@nmelectric.coop
505-310-2406
Evelyn Vigil - NMRECA
evigil@nmelectric.coop
505-690-4652
Youth Tour Chaperones
Talia Storch - NMRECA
Jennifer Peabody - NMRECA
Marla Ulibarri
Debbie Manzanares
Bill Wylie
TRAVEL TIPS & TRICKS
Flight Information
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026
Flight 1 - United Airlines #3441
12:34pm (MST) - Depart ABQ (layover in Chicago)
9:22pm (EST) - Arrive IAD
Flight 2 - United Airlines #2254
1:33pm (MST) - Depart ABQ (layover in Denver)
9:22pm (EST) - Arrive IAD
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2026
United Airlines #2768
8:15am (EST) - Depart IAD (layover in Denver)
12:37pm (MST) - Arrive ABQ
Questions on Baggage
All luggage will be checked:
- Students will not be allowed to take carry-on suitcases.
- Backpacks and small travel items are acceptable for carry-on, but luggage will not be permitted.
- Please carry medications in carry-on luggage or speak with a chaperone before departing to airport.
Baggage Screening:
- All luggage will be screened and subject to inspection. Substances and weapons are prohibited per the code of conduct. For more information on TSA screening CLICK HERE
Weight and size limits for luggage:
- Maximum 50lb weight/luggage. Any bags weighing more than 50lbs are subject to a $100 fee, which the student/parent is responsible for.
- Maximum size is 62"/luggage
What to Take
ID is required for air travel.
Airports are cold - bring a long sleeve in your carry-on.
Liquids are not allowed through security, but empty waterbottles are.
- Please pack all shampoos, conditioners, body wash, lotions, cologne, body spray, other "liquid" items, etc. in a ZIP-LOCK bag in your checked luggage.
Snacks are allowed through security and some snacks will be provided by NMREC.
Headphones - please be courteous to other passengers and use headphones for any phone audio during the flights.
Pack a charger and/or portable battery pack, and bring in your carry-on bag.
- WiFi may not be available on the plane, so download games, movies, music, etc. beforehand.
Travel pillows are allowed.
Books, word puzzles, sketchpad, journals, etc. are all encouraged and acceptable carry-on items.
REMEMBER: The more you bring, the more you have to carry and keep track of! We will not be returing to any location for lost items, so please be mindful of what you bring on the trip.
Download GroupMe App
We will be using the GroupMe App for commmunication on the trip. All students are required to install this app to receive important information throughout the week.
2026 Group will be available soon!
The most important thing to remember: HAVE FUN!
