LAREDO, Texas — For thousands of South Texas youth, Camp Huisache is a 30-acre haven located near Lake Casa Blanca on State Representative Henry Cuellar Roadway. Featuring program shelters, six campsites, and a 10,000-square-foot administration conference center that houses the Aztec Service Center, the facility offers local scouts a permanent venue for archery, hiking, fishing, and outdoor leadership.
Yet according to long-time Laredo community leader and educator Blas Castañeda, the complete history of how the camp was built remains largely untold.
In a recent interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Castañeda reflected on the origins of the camp, recounting how a grassroots effort by local volunteers, public officials, and business executives transformed an unfunded vision into a regional hub for youth development.
Castañeda’s involvement with scouting began in the late 1980s when his eldest son, Andres, joined the program and his wife, Eliaida Lopez Castañeda, volunteered as a leader. At the time, the local Boy Scout troops operated without a dedicated indoor facility or regional headquarters.
"Scouting didn't have a home," Castañeda said. "We would meet out at the open areas in el monte, as we used to say. Scouting leaders had to carry all their materials and supplies in the trunks of their cars because there was nowhere to leave them."
Recognizing the need for shelter and infrastructure, Castañeda began approaching local businesses for support. His first project involved securing materials from a local drilling company to construct a covered shelter or techo to protect scouts from the South Texas heat. That early shelter effort drew early support from community figures, including State Sen. Judith Zaffirini and local scouting leader Mr. Emery.
As interest in the program grew, Castañeda envisioned a permanent, multi-use administration and activity center that could serve both boys and girls across the region.
To move the project forward, Castañeda collaborated with key public and private stakeholders across Webb County and the Texas border region. He formed a strategic partnership with the late Jorge Verduzco, then-executive vice president of International Bank of Commerce (IBC), to lead the fundraising and organizational efforts as co-chairs.
"I'm one leader that always believes you have to develop a network of community leaders," Castañeda noted. "Jorge was very particular, very strategic, with a deep background in international trade and economics. We teamed up to bring the community together."
The initiative secured commitments from various local entities and civic leaders:
Beyond the physical facilities opened in May 1997, Castañeda emphasized that the primary motivation behind the decade-long effort was academic retention and youth development along the U.S.–Mexico border.
"Developing self-confidence is one of the most vital things scouting does," said Castañeda, who spent nearly four decades working in community college education and workforce development. "You can be the highest-skilled person in the world, but if you don't have self-confidence, you're not going to be successful. We wanted to provide a structured environment that encouraged students to complete high school and pursue higher education."
Castañeda pointed to former scouts who transitioned into public leadership roles, such as Jesse Heffernan, a former eagle scout who served as an advisor in Washington D.C. before working in financial sector leadership.
The camp's grounds also feature a bronze statue of a scout modeled after Castañeda’s younger son, Carlos. Sculpted by local artist Mr. Hinojosa and funded through a donation by French Ellison Trucking, the statue stands near the entrance of the conference center.
While recent organizational reports have highlighted specific public contributions—such as initial allocations from Webb County—Castañeda believes it is critical to document the full spectrum of community support that made Camp Huisache possible.
"There is not a single individual who can claim that it was just them," Castañeda said. "It took all of us—the moms and dads, local businesses, school districts, trade industries, and public officials. It's a testament to what the Laredo community can achieve when everyone works together for our youth."
