Since 1988, volunteers from HCEC along with eight other co-ops in East Texas join 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 to the cooperative way of life. ETREYS is an all-expense paid camp that is held on a college campus in the East Texas area. 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 125 students are sent from 9 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); Upshur Rural EC (Gilmer); Wood County EC (Quitman)