Paul Smith’s College Featured on “Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins”

College campus showcased in “Man of the Mountain” Episode 4 of the hit series streaming on Nat Geo TV, Disney+, Prime Video, ABC, and Hulu

Paul Smiths, NY – Those with a keen eye will notice something familiar when tuning in to National Geographic TV’s newest show, “Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins.”  Filmed late last summer on the college’s beautiful 14,000-acre campus, the episode “Man of the Mountain” takes viewers through the titular adventure and travel blogger’s swift transformation into a real Adirondacker.

Paul Smith’s College alum and current professional Stihl TimberSports athlete Mark Boquin plays a central role in the episode, guiding host Jeff Jenkins from the depths of Lower St. Regis Lake to the heights of the Woodsmen’s arena climbing polls.  Jenkins performed tasks including fire building, crosscut sawing, rock climbing, fishing, and traversing a steep pitch on one of the Adirondack’s many sheer anorthosite rock faces on Notch Mountain.

Lumberjacks, trappers, guides, and all-around “mountain men” have populated the surrounding area since well before the days of Apollos “Paul” Smith and his historic hotel.  Boquin, who is currently ranked #1 in the US in the single buck Stihl TimberSports event and will be representing the US team in the Stihl World Championships in Germany this year, had nothing but praise on this experience.  “Paul Smith’s College is the reason I got into this sport,” he remarked.  “The school taught me enough that by the time I graduated I was able to start my professional career in lumberjack sports.  Without Paul Smith’s College I would have never been introduced to it, and I would’ve never had access to such an amazing place to train.”

Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen’s head coach Keith Braun is also featured in the episode, acting as a judge during the smoke building contest, while members of the Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen’s Team can be seen performing in various lumberjack sports disciplines.  “Interacting with Jeff and the production crew was a great, worldly experience for the students,” said Braun.  “Mark is great example of the gritty Smitty spirit that comes with being a PSC Woodsmen alumnus; if you want to learn to be a lumberjack, he’s your guy,” he added.

The college’s rustic aesthetic and place in Adirondack history was the perfect setting for the show’s needs.  “Anyone who has set foot on Paul Smith’s College campus knows that this is a place unparalleled in beauty and opportunities for adventure,” said Dr. Brett McLeod, Professor and Chair of Forestry.  “Over the past decade Paul Smith’s has served as a film set for nearly a dozen films ranging from documentaries to dramas.  However, ‘Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins’ was a particularly good fit as the show’s theme captured the can-do Smitty attitude, highlighted our exemplar lumberjack sports team, and showcased the beauty of the Adirondacks.”

“Life begins where my comfort zone ends” is Jeff Jenkins’ motto on the show.  “Being a mountain man [and a Smitty] is about more than survival skills and a flannel shirt, it’s about overcoming the odds by training hard, finding the right support, and never, ever, giving up,” said Jenkins.

“The College’s history and physical footprint are embedded into the curriculum and culture of the College, and truly makes Paul Smith’s College what it is. Opportunities like this are why so many students choose to attend Paul Smith’s College – an authentic experience in the heart of the Adirondacks,” said President Dan Kelting.

At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith’s provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences and natural resources. We are able to draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive and adventurous individuals collectively provide experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at paulsmiths.edu »