Rules and What to Pack
What You Can Expect From Us
We will travel by motor coach from Illinois to Washington D.C., stopping along the way to visit Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.
Once in D.C. we will learn about electric cooperatives, American history, and the workings of our state and federal government. We'll visit with our state's representatives from both the House and Senate, and take in an impressive number of historic sites in the Washington area.
While in our nation's capital all transportation, meals, admissions to events and lodging will be arranged for you.
We will also introduce you to many other interesting students from the state of Illinois, as well as from across the country.
In short we are going to give you an adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life.
For more details about the trip go to the Itinerary section of this web site.
What We Can Expect Of You
Because most of you won your electric or telephone cooperative's contest, you are considered one of the top high school students in Illinois. You will be serving as a representative of the cooperative, your school and community and state from the time you leave home until you return from Washington.
You have a responsibility to yourself, and to all the others, to conform willingly and cooperatively to the following reasonable expectations:
Be punctual. We have a very busy schedule and cannot hold buses or delay starting events if we are to see and do all the things we plan.
Participate in all planned activities. You will not be allowed to leave the group at any time unless authorized by the Tour Director.
Follow the dress code and wear your name badge at all times during Youth Tour. Your name badge is your ticket to meals and events.
Be in your hotel room by the 11:00 p.m. curfew each night. Do not leave your room after this hour except with special permission of your chaperone. Room checks are made each night. Hotel security will notify your Tour Director if any of you disregard this rule. The curfew will be a common one for all states.
Respect the rights of others. You will share a room with two other Youth Tourers and will be expected to respect the rights of others and be tolerant of any differences. After curfew, you will be expected to stay in your room, be ready for bed and reasonably quiet so others may sleep.
Tobacco products, drugs, and alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
Radios and CD players used on the bus must be equipped with earphones.
Treat hotel property and bus with care. Any damage will result in complete payment of damage on your part, and an immediate trip home.
Infraction of these rules governing the conduct of our Youth Tour will be considered cause for terminating your participation and returning you to your home at your family's expense.
The Well Dressed Student Guidelines
The following are general guidelines for dress. On several days of our trip, as time allows, the group will return to the hotel to change clothes and spruce up.
All Youth Tourers should pack for 3 "dress up" occasions during the tour.
Overall, you will be "dressed up" at least 2 days of our time in Washington, D.C. These occasions will include Sunday church and brunch, the Capitol Hill and embassy visits and a possible White House tour.
Specific dress requirements will be given to you by the Tour Director at the end of each day for the following day.
Dress Guidelines for Girls
We suggest light-weight shorts or dresses/jumpers for sight-seeing. Dress slacks or skirts and blouses suitable for dress occasions are also appropriate (perhaps 3 dressy outfits).
Comfortable shoes are a must: dress flats look nice for formal occasions and make walking easier. Clean, neat tennis shoes or canvas shoes can be worn during most tours. Flip flops are not a good choice for all the walking that is done and definitely should not be worn on Capitol Hill day.
To ease security clearances, no one may carry large shopping bags or oversized purses on tours of the government buildings. If you carry a purse, make it a small bag with an over the shoulder strap.
Some sites on the tour will allow nice shorts or jeans.
Dress Guidelines for Boys
Good, comfortable walking shoes are very important (casual and dress).
Some sites on the tour will allow nice shorts and jeans.
All boys are required to wear a suit or sport coat and tie while touring government office buildings and when visiting Capitol Hill, the White House and the foreign embassy. For comfort, we suggest short sleeve shirts.
Although you will not be required to wear your jackets or coats while on the bus, you should bring them to wear while you're visiting the sites.
Packing Recommendations
This list of items may help you plan and pack for your trip to Washington, D.C.
Girls
- 2-3 Dress outfits (dresses or blouse/skirt combination)
- 1 Casual dress/jumper
- 1 Sweater or lightweight dress jacket (just in case!)
- 4 Nice shorts (no cut-offs, short shorts, running shorts)
- 1 Jeans (no holes and no "bagging" or "sagging")
- 1 Slack
- 3 Knit shirts
- 2 Casual blouses
- 1 Pair of comfortable dress shoes or dress sandals (flats are best) No Flip-Flops!
- 1 Tennis shoes or canvas shoes
- Small purse with zipper or flap closing and shoulder strap
- Swimsuit
Boys
- 1 Sportcoat (or suit)
- 1-2 Jeans (no holes and no "bagging" or "sagging")
- 1-2 Ties
- 2-3 Nice shorts (no frayed cutoffs or running shorts)
- 2 Dress shirts
- 3-4 Casual perma press or polo shirts
- 2-3 Dress pants (no "bagging" or "sagging")
- 3 Pairs of dress or dark socks
- 1 Dress shoes
- 1 Tennis shoes
- 3-4 Pairs of sport socks
- 1 Dress sandals
- Swimsuit
Miscellaneous (Girls & Boys)
- Snacks for the bus trip
- Gum
- Trial size toiletries to save space
- Chapstick
- Postcards, stamps
- Pocket-size Kleenex
- Pens/paper
- Folding umbrella
- Books or magazines to read on bus
- Alarm clock (with battery backup)
- Bag for dirty laundry
- Carry on bag for on the bus. We strongly suggest all participants pack anything they will need during the bus trip in this carry on bag, as luggage is stowed away and difficult to get access to, during the trip to Washington.
- CD or MP3player w/headphones
- Swimsuit, workout clothes optional
- Running shoes if you are interested in "John's Running Club"
- Pillow and light blanket for bus ride
- Camera and film (lots of film … at least 4-5 rolls or throw away cameras) or extra memory for digital cameras.
Note: we strongly suggest that you place your name on the camera as several participants usually have the same type. - Blowdryer and iron are furnished for each room by the hotel.
- Bring Something Comfortable (and Warm) to Wear For The Bus Ride!
