U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said he wants to explore new funding to expand and upgrade Camp Huisache, a 30-acre outdoor youth facility on Lake Casa Blanca in Laredo. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Cuellar said a modern space for youth development along the border is a top priority.
Cuellar credited Laredo educator and community leader Blas Castañeda with helping organize the regional coalition that brought the camp from concept to reality. Cuellar said Castañeda rallied public officials, local businesses and residents behind the project.
Camp Huisache opened in May 1997. The camp has six campsites, program shelters, and outdoor areas for archery, hiking and fishing. Its 10,000-square-foot administration and conference center houses the Aztec Service Center. The camp supports Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, along with other youth groups in the region.
The Texas Department of Transportation named the access roadway to the camp in Cuellar's honor. According to the Rio Grande Guardian, the state agency cited his support for the camp and his earlier work on state funding for Lake Casa Blanca State Park while he served on the House Appropriations Committee.