It was all in a day’s work at an unusual kind of summer school, one free of algebra problems and reading-comprehension drills.

In an age when Facebook and video games have conspired to keep adolescents tethered to a sofa, and the book “Last Child in the Woods” laments the loss of contact with nature, Paul Smith’s College, a small private college in the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains, is providing an outlet for young people who crave a different experience. Its new summer program — a two-week, college-credit course called the Adirondack Woodsmen’s School — is dedicated to traditional lumberjack skills and sports, like carving a dugout canoe, building a fire without matches and throwing an ax.

Indeed, there was nothing virtual about the heady scent of pine, the buzz of chainsaws or the flying wood chips last week as the first session began. And the two dozen young men who showed up, mostly high school seniors and college freshmen, had the blisters and sweaty brows to prove it.

“They’re a very anachronistic group,” said Brett McLeod, an assistant professor of forestry and natural resources at Paul Smith’s who directs the summer program. “They should have been born in the 1800s. They really like working with, and learning with, their hands.”

They came from rural and suburban towns in Northeastern states , many with an established interest in the outdoors, and some drawn, paradoxically, by lumberjack competitions they had seen on television.

“There’s some fulfillment for the couch outdoorsman who is watching a lot of this stuff on TV on the weekend,” Mr. McLeod said. “But there’s a higher level of appreciation that can be earned through getting out here and sleeping under the stars and getting bit by a few mosquitoes, as opposed to watching it from afar.”

A century ago, lumberjacks were a dominant feature of the Adirondack landscape, setting up temporary camps and working in harsh, dangerous conditions to get timber down the mountains and onto the rivers for transport. Starting in the 1920s, the term “lumberjack” gave way to “logger,” as men traded in hand tools for mechanized equipment. Today, the politically correct job title is “timber harvest professional.”

But the romance of the job persists. The lightning-fast skill set of the lumberjack — and the lumberjill, as the women are known — has evolved into a popular national competition, with events like speed climbing, chopping and birling (logrolling) held at the collegiate and professional levels.

Colleges like Paul Smith’s, which has an extensive forestry program, cheer on their co-ed woodsmen’s teams the way other campuses support their football squads.

Rosey Santerre, a senior here and an instructor for the woodsmen’s summer program, was one of several students at Paul Smith’s who dominated the Stihl Timbersports Northeast Collegiate Challenge this spring, capturing the women’s title.

Ms. Santerre and another Paul Smith’s student, Tyler Rothe, who won the prestigious Ironjack competition at the same event, were fine-tuning the chopping technique of Ben St. Amand, an 18-year-old from New Boston, N.H., who will attend the college this fall.

He was alternating his swings among four different 45-degree cuts that he had made in the wood block.

“Nice job, Ben,” Ms. Santerre said. “Show me your top hits. Avoid windmilling it.”

Mr. Rothe added, “Pretend there’s a wall behind you and you can’t touch that wall.”

The outdoors has beckoned Mr. St. Amand since he was a child. The summer school here provided him with the structure to pursue the kinds of activities (hurling axes, making fires) that would at best make most parents nervous, and would turn some into furious scolds.

“I really love the ax throwing,” he said. “Everybody can hold it and swing it, but throwing it — and hitting the target — is awesome. The third time I threw the ax I got a bull’s-eye.”

The experience does not come cheaply: tuition is $1,095 per week. Indeed, Mr. McLeod conceived of the summer school a couple of years ago but was stymied by the expense.

By the end of the two-week session, students will have used $10,000 worth of hand tools and $5,000 worth of power tools. While much of the equipment is already owned by the college, the beating the tools take will require costly repairs. “You can only sharpen axes six times before they’re completely done,” Mr. McLeod said. “Those axes are $400 to $500 apiece.”

So he enlisted corporate aid. Carhartt donated work clothes, while the tool manufacturer Stihl lent power equipment, underwrote the salaries of three instructors and helped in recruiting, distributing 1,500 brochures at the collegiate competitions it sponsors around the country. Paul Smith’s also sent mailings to incoming freshmen who had indicated an interest in trying out for the woodsmen’s team.

The college ended up turning away some interested students because it wanted an intimate atmosphere, Mr. McLeod said. But next year, he said, the college could add additional sessions if there is sufficient demand. And it may try to reach beyond a core audience of young men who are already well versed in hand tools to young men and women who are more comfortable with a remote control.

Still, logrolling and other lumberjack sports are tougher than they look on a TV screen. Bill Barnik of Binghamton, N.Y., who signed up with his 17-year-old son, Dan, for the woodsmen’s program, learned that the hard way after giving the two-man saw a go. “I thought they were going to have to pull out the defibrillator, I was so winded,” he said.

Some instructors made a point of sharing their own battle scars from when they were novice lumberjacks.

“It’s important because I’ve chopped about 9,000 logs, so 9,000 logs later, yeah, I can chop it really fast,” said Mr. McLeod, a Paul Smith’s alumnus who, while growing up in rural Connecticut, got his first ax at age 5 and his first chain saw at 7. “But when I was starting out it was very discouraging.”

Mr. McLeod told a frustrated student about his initial attempt at the standing-block chop, which simulates felling a tree. “My first time was not pretty at all,” he said. “I ruined my coach’s personal ax, and it looked like a beaver had chewed the log when I was done.”

Hey if you have a tough Job Carhartt wants to hear about it. Just go here and tell them about your tough job. Have a picture ready to of you in your Carhartt gear. Maybe your job will show up online!

Brian

Carhartt has a great contest going on and you could win one of 89 pair of 1889 jeans given away every week or $1889 dollars! Simply go to Carhartt’s Facebook page here for details. While your at it join our Facebook Fan Page here. Nothong beats Carhartt and this is a really neat contest with lots of prizes. Like them now on Facebook!

Brian

I always find it interesting when I see the impact of American Culture in foreign countries. I’ve seen a few articles popping up about the spread of American Heritage clothing in other countries. I knew Japan for example always liked USA Boots from Red Wing and Chippewa but it appears to be spreading to other countries with  other brands as well. Read this article here and also after the jump in case the link is broke.

Now that there’s a Red Wing concept store in Berlin, you can buy Filson in Paris, and scarves from Brooklyn’s Hill-Side have made it to Amsterdam and Trieste, it’s clear that the fetishization of American “heritage” style is no longer just for American men. And few shops in Europe are more faithfully dedicated to heirloom denim and classic work wear than the new Stockholm shop Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold. The name alone, taken from a Townes Van Zandt classic, is like Carhartts incarnate. The shop, in Södermalm, the city’s answer to Brooklyn and the only party of town that could be called gritty, is outfitted almost entirely in unfinished knotty pine boards; they line the walls and form blocky benches and tables for merchandise that includes Mr. Freedom work shirts, Quoddy moccasins, Pendleton blankets and Wesco motorcycle boots. And true to the cult of craftsmanship, the narrative behind every company the store does business with is highlighted on its Web site. The expertly focused selection of brands includes plenty of international origin — canvas satchels from Brady Bags of England, founded in 1877; Grunden rain gear (Sweden, 1926); jeans by The Real McCoy’s (Japan, 1990) — but the effect is nonetheless a mashup of styles that feels unmistakably American. Easy rider meets California gold miner meets New England stevedore, all crammed into your dad’s tool shed, circa 1976.

Carhartt is one of the best vendors we deal with here at Hanks Clothing. Today so many companies we deal with make you feel like they are doing a favor selling to you. Carhartt let’s us know they appreciate all we do for them as an authorized dealer and how glad they are to have us representing their product.

I just read another great thing Carhartt just did and thought I would share it. From Bloomberg Businessweek comes this article:

Read more after the jump…

LYNDON CENTER, VT.

Vermont’s Lyndon State College says a $1 million gift from an outdoor clothing manufacturer will be used to help fund a scholarship program to benefit young people from the state’s Northeast Kingdom.

The gift from Carhartt Inc., of Michigan will help expand Lyndon’s Promise Scholarship Program and provide more scholarships for low-income Vermonters who will be among the first in their families to graduate from college.

The Carhartt gift will also help acquire a ten-acre parcel of land adjacent to the campus and be used for other purposes.

Carhartt President Mark Valade is a 1978 graduate of Lyndon State.

Brian
Hanks Clothing

It sure is feeling like fall out there. It’s our favorite time of the year at Hanks and we are all ready for the cold weather ahead. We’ve got a big event coming this month soon to be announced. This year marks a milestone in Hanks Clothing’s history and we are going to celebrate big! So stay tune here and I’ll be announcing the event shortly!

Brian

Brian has worked at Hanks Clothing for over 27 years and knows all the ins and outs of the clothing and shoe business. He is inspired to share his insight and experience with others. Brian has lived in scenic upstate NY for most of his life.

Are you a Woman that gives the guys a run for their money in the great outdoors? Then check out this great site full of articles and information for Women active in the great outdoors. We started promoting some of our Women’s Carhartt on the site.

So head on over to The WON and poke around a bit. A Hanks recommended site!
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Thanks!
Brian

Brian has worked at Hanks Clothing for over 27 years and knows all the ins and outs of the clothing and shoe business. He is inspired to share his insight and experience with others. Brian has lived in scenic upstate NY for most of his life.

We all know that Carhartt makes a great product, but how much do you know about the company itself? Did you know that Carhartt has been in business for over 120 years? That alone tells you everything you need to know about the quality of product they sell and the type of company they are. Here are some more tidbits of information on this truly American company. Read more…

Family Owned
Carhartt is family owned and operated with over 4,000 employees which is a statement to the continued success of the brand. Founded in 1889, this is a brand with a long, well-established history that would make modern designers weep with envy. With a long, distinguished history comes a loyal fanbase, and there are Carhartt clothing fans all over the world that choose this brand over any other for the comfort and style that Carhartt offers.

The brand ethics remain strong and people can expect the same quality and standard of clothing as there was all those years ago, since family owned companies take much more pride in their product, continuing to promote the brand’s core beliefs.

A Wide Range of Products
When you purchase a piece of Carhartt jeans or Carhartt pants for work, you are not buying some cheap piece of clothing which falls to pieces after a few tough days on the job. They are known worldwide for their products durability and exceptional comfort. Their entire clothing selection is the first choice for blue-collar workers looking to get the most out of every dollar.

Nothing but the Best
Nothing is more distinct about Carhartt work clothes than its brand logo, which is quite prominent on many of their pieces. The iconic lettering of the name can be found on t-shirts, belt buckles, and jeans. This branding is not only great for marketing purposes but it also displays a sense of pride in their product. Brand identity is crucial for a company to become successful, and Carhartt has mastered how it should be done.

So enjoy these warm summer days as they won’t be here for long. Jump in the pools, fire up the grills, and put on the suntan lotion. Fall will be here before you know it.