Gainesville Jaycees' Gut Check program continues to aid Hall youths

DAHLONEGA -- This afternoon, near the campus of the University of North Georgia, nearly 50 middle-school-aged boys will push themselves to limits they never thought possible.

They will learn about trust, leadership and self-belief.

And the Gainesville Jaycees hope those values -- imparted over a weekend-long program called Gut Check -- will help those boys for the rest of their lives.

"We want to give these kids a solid foundation of what they're going to need to help guide their actions, as they grow up," Gut Check director Trey McPhaul said. "Gut Check is a leadership program. The boys we work with are at a very impressionable age, and it is very easy for them to become followers. We want to teach them to trust in themselves and become leaders."

Gut Check utilizes a high-energy weekend that includes ropes course work, team building exercises and rappelling off Mt. Yonah to help each "candidate" learn to trust in himself and his teammates. The entire program is also supported with military-style discipline, as the Jaycees provide the same structured environment that has helped hundreds of Hall County youths in its nearly 20 years of existence.

Those candidates ready to take the plunge on Thursday -- made up of rising eighth-graders -- experienced pangs of excitement and nerves, as they made ready to join their squads and make the trek north to the Dahlonega campus of the University of North Georgia.

"I don't really know what to expect; my brother went and my dad was a Jaycee, so I felt like it was the right place for me," Gainesville Middle student Weber Lint said.

North Hall Middle student Tristan Burnette was in a similar frame of mind.

"I was advised that I was right for the program by my school," Burnette said. "And I want to get outside and get active."

Burnette's father believed it was a good fit for his son.

"Hopefully it will help get him more motivated," Nick Burnette said. "It's very important for these kids to be in a structured environment besides school. I'm looking forward to talking to him when he gets back."

A graduation ceremony will take place on Sunday at Gainesville Middle School, where candidates like Austin Jones hope to take part with a new perspective.

"I like the military lifestyle, and I feel like this will be a great opportunity for me," Jones said. "I'm pretty excited and looking forward to the challenge."

Johnson's mother, Robin Placek, was also pleased to see her son take part.

"I think it's a great, positive thing," Placek said. "It's pretty rough for middle school students these days. They face something new every day, and, hopefully, this will help them learn how to deal with things in a positive way."

To that end, each candidate is handed a "creed card" that he will memorize over the weekend.

The card contains five statements that read:

-- I am a Gut Check candidate.

-- I will obey the rules and orders of my leaders, parents and teachers.

-- I am committed to excellence and fair treatment to all.

-- Integrity and determination will forever guide my actions.

-- I will proudly uphold the Gut Check traditions of leadership and teamwork.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/7/263452