Ashley Davis and Nicole Julstead, eighth grade students from Brushy Elementary School, attended the 2005 Youth Power Energy Camp sponsored by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative Inc.

Each year Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative Inc. along with the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives sponsor eighth grade students to Youth Power Energy Camp. The camp is designed to help develop leadership skills, have summertime fun, and at the same time, learn about one of rural America's most important industries - rural electrification, Cheryl Mills, director of marketing, said.

"The students had the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures Canyon Camp in Hinton has to offer that include volleyball, swimming and hiking. They visited one of the largest generating facilities in Oklahoma at Anadarko, experienced first-hand the exciting world of rural electricity, watched safety demonstrations, climbed a pole, and took bucket truck rides.

"While at camp they had the opportunity to sharpen leadership skills by working with new friends from all over the state to set up and run their cooperative business," Mills said.

The camp was held from May 31 through June 3.

Cookson Hills Electric sponsors four students to the camp each year. The students must be in the eighth grade and be recommended by their school counselor or teachers, Mills said.