Michigan Electric Teen Days is a really fun 3-day workshop designed to teach high school students about electricity, electrical safety and rural electric cooperatives. It takes place at the Kettunen 4-H Center near Cadillac every April.
- It is hard NOT to have a really good time at Teen Days*:
- Enjoy fun activities, games, and outdoor recreation with new friends from across the state.
- The Kettunen Center is a beautiful camp in the woods on a lake with very comfortable accommodations and really good food.
- Watch a live TV 9&10 newscast and meet the newscasters.
- Strap on lineworker’s gear, climb a utility pole and ride in a bucket truck.
- Take part in “hands-on” demonstrations that make you a smarter energy user at home.
- See how electricity is controlled electronically at an energy control center.
- Learn about electric co-op careers.
Participating co-ops pay all your expenses to participate at the workshop. It is their way of teaching a new generation how a cooperative business works along with the importance of staying informed and safe around electricity. 
Interested in Teen Days for 2008? Sophomores, juniors or seniors whose parents or guardians are co-op customers or employees of the electric co-ops listed below are eligible to apply. (Some co-ops accept students who are not members but whose homes or schools are near electric co-op service areas.)
Students chosen to attend Teen Days, scheduled for April 16-18, 2008, will automatically be considered to win a free trip to the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., June 13-19, 2008, with students from across the country. Learn more about the Youth Tour here
View the 2006 Teen Days schedule here.
Following are the Michigan electric cooperatives who participate in Teen Days and Youth Tour. Application requirements may vary:
- ALGER DELTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE – Call Laurie Young at 906-428-4141, or e-mail lyoungadcea@chartermi.net, for information.
- CHERRYLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE – Check out the Jan., Feb. and March issues of Country Lines magazine for application information. Or, contact Nick Edson at nicke@cecelec.com or 231-486-9222.
- CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE – Watch the Jan. and March issues of Country Lines magazine or download an application at cloverland.com. For more information, contact Wendy Malaska at wmalaska@cloverland.com or 906-635-6800.
- GREAT LAKES ENERGY – Look for application information in the Jan., Feb. and March issues of Country Lines magazine, or apply online at gtlakes.com. You may also contact Dave Guzniczak at dguz@glenergy.com or 231-582-6521, Ext. 1316.
- HOMEWORKS TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC – Check out the Jan., Feb. and March issues of Country Lines magazine for application information, or visit homeworks.org for an online application. Also, contact Jayne Graham at jayne@homeworks.org or 517-647-1252 for more information.
- MIDWEST ENERGY – Find application information in the Jan., Feb., and March issues of Country Lines magazine, or contact Nicole Barfell at 1-800-492-5989, Ext. 1112, or nicoleb@teammidwest.com.
- PRESQUE ISLE ELECTRIC & GAS CO-OP – For application information, check out the Jan. and March issues of Country Lines magazine, or contact Sharon Krzywiecki at 989-733-8515, Ext. 813, e-mail sharonkr@pieg.com.
Student reviews from last year:
“I never knew electric co-ops were so involved in the community. It’s great they sponsor stuff like this for teens.”—Brittney Benjamin, Great Lakes Energy
“I would definately encourage my friends to do Teen Days. It was informing yet fun!” —Jaimee Rector, Cherryland Electric
“Teen Days was a very fun, information-filled-jam-packed-lots-of-cool-people fun days. If I could, I’d do it all over again.” —Jesse Binns, Midwest Energy
“My favorite part of Teen Days was meeting new friends and learning new ideas.” —Andrew Shultz, Midwest Energy
“The people I met at Teen Days were amazing. The Kettunen Center is absolutely beautiful with all the scenic trails, peaceful lake, and the recreation provided. It was a really great time.” —Victoria Kowalczyk, Great Lakes Energy
