Camp_Nejedly - Council History

Camp Nejedly (1982-1997) - Facts and Figures

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Nejedly

Ne-jed-ly

Named after John Nejedly

Mt. Diablo Council (1952-1992)

Mt. Diablo Silverado Council (1992-2020)

Gifted to Mount Diablo Council and then returned by MDSC to the Nejedly family

Hawley Lake (16 miles from Portola, CA) in the Sierra Nevada mountains

39.6832709, -120.7106697 (click on coordinates for Camp Location)

Sierra County

1982

1997

About 15

Returned to the Nejedly family

approx 80 acres

6500 Feet

n/a

High Sierra’s, open only during summer months, Hawley lake was 20 acres in size.

Camp Nejedly History

In December 1981, 80 acres of High Sierra property owned by retired State Senator John Nejedly was given to the Mt. Diablo Council for the purpose of a supplemental summer camp experience to Camp Wolfeboro. Camp Nejedly was located on Hawley Lake in Sierra County, about 40 miles north of Truckee. Camp Nejedly was a high sierra adventure camp and within the lakes basin recreation area. Nejedly was at an altitude of 6500 feet and within a days hike of the 8,587-foot Sierra Buttes.

The initial idea was to offer small boat sailing, fly-fishing, advanced rock climbing and outpost camping. The camp facilities included an indoor/outdoor kitchen, BBQ pit, Flush toilets and hot shower. Hawley lake is known for it’s good-sized Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout and was an ideal starting or ending location for a 50-miler or for use as a base camp to excursions within the lakes basin area.

The councils idea of a supplemental summer camp experience never panned out and the camp’s only real use during the council custody period was for units to have a launch point for backpacking. No Scout resident camp programs were held by the council at this property.

The Camp Nejedly property was conditionally gifted to Mt. Diablo Council and then returned by Mt. Diablo Silverado Council to the Nejedly family in the late 1990’s when it became obvious to council leaders that the property was not a good fit for the needs of Scouting and the council had no resources for making any improvements.

Who was John Nejedly?

John Albert Nejedly (October 22, 1914 – September 19, 2006) was a district attorney and Republican state senator in California who represented Contra Costa County from 1958 to 1980.

Nejedly was born and raised in Oakland, California. From 1926 until the 1930’s, he was a Scout in Troop 32 of the Oakland Area Council which met at Frick school near Mills College. During his time in the Oakland Council, Nejedly camped at both Camp Dimond and Camp Dimond-O. At Camp Dimond, Nejedly learned how to swim and eventually ran the swimming pool.

At Dimond-O in the sierra’s, Bugs Cain was the hike leader and Nejedly hiked throughout the Yosemite area. Dimond-O is where Nejedly really became interested in the environment and the outdoors. Ultimately he attained the rank of Eagle.

Nejedly attended Cal Berkeley and then received his law degree from the Boalt School of Law. In 1969, Nejedly was elected to the office of State Senator for California State Senate District 7. In 1972, Nejedly authored Senate Bill 25, to authorize the design and construction of the new Antioch Bridge in Antioch, which replaced a vertical lift bridge that was constructed in 1926.

After its completion, the new bridge was named the “Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge” in his honor. In 1979, nearby land was acquired for the Antioch / Oakley Regional Shoreline with the support of Nejedly, and it was Nejedly’s suggestion that some of the old bridge’s pillars be used for what is now a fishing pier.

Senator Nejedly retired from public office in 1980 and followed his passion of helping disadvantaged youth full time. He donated 80 acres of land in California’s Sierra Mountains to provide a camp for the Boy Scouts and created the Contra Costa Youth Council to assist disabled, and under-privileged youth take pleasure in the outdoors.