Since 1988, volunteers from HCEC, along with other East Texas co-ops, have joined together each summer to put on ETREYS (East Texas Rural Electric Youth Seminar), a cooperative leadership camp. For one week, ETREYS delegates participate in activities that strengthen leadership qualities and provide insight into the cooperative way of life. ETREYS is an all-expenses-paid camp held on a college campus in East Texas. In the past, the camp has been held at Stephen F. Austin State University, Lon Morris College, and, most recently, East Texas Baptist University. All ETREYS chaperones are cooperative employees. Students will have the opportunity to meet various speakers from across the country, participate in leadership activities, and compete for scholarships. At least one camp scholarship is designated for an HCEC delegate, but many more are available to delegates from the entire camp. High school sophomores and juniors are eligible to attend camp.
Approximately 140 students are sent from 10 different East Texas Electric Cooperatives:
Bowie Cass EC (Douglassville); Cherokee County EC (Rusk); Deep East EC (San Augustine); Houston County EC (Crockett); Jasper-Newton EC (Kirbyville); Panola Harrison EC (Marshall); Rusk County EC (Henderson); Trinity Valley EX (Kaufman); Upshur Rural EC (Gilmer); Wood County EC (Quitman)
This year's camp will be held June 8 - 12, 2026, at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.
Please download the 2026 application here:
2026 ETREYS Application