A Folk School Log Cabin
built by & For our community
The cabin was built in town by a Folk School class in April 2025. It’s now time to bring it home to its place in the White Mountains.
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About the log cabin project
A story of adaptation
The log cabin was built in town by a Folk School class in March & April 2025 taught by Maureen Chambrone and Tyler Selden, with our partner, the Bureau of Land Management, set to handle the rebuilding onsite in the White Mountains as a public use cabin that summer. When shifting federal priorities last year meant that the original plan couldn’t move forward with the same level of support from the BLM, you all gave us the inspiration to carry it through anyway.
We are ALL committed to getting the cabin out there for everyone to use, and are working with the BLM’s blessing to rebuild the cabin as a big community effort—a modern day Folk School a barn raising.
In the meantime, Jon Holmgren is graciously hosting the cabin shell until the big move in February 2027.
Not the first time
This isn’t the first log cabin built by The Folk School community, nor the first time a Folk School log cabin project had to adapt to changing conditions. In 2020 the Folk School partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to build a new public use cabin on the South Fork of the Chena River near Nugget Creek. Sandy Jamieson and Tom Sorenson led students through the entire building process.
Reconstruction was originally scheduled for mid-March 2020, but had to be postponed due to the pandemic and trail conditions. Mastodon Cabin is now one of the backcountry cabins in the Chena River State Recreation Area.
Upcoming Events
Note! Field dates are subject to change depending on weather and conditions in the White Mountains.
July
4th
Barn Quilt Painting Day – Rebuild Kick-Off
Check out barn quilt painting in action, plus learn more about painted quilts, The Far North Quilt Trail, and The Folk School’s Log Cabin project.
This painting day will kick off the much-anticipated rebuild phase of the Folk School’s log cabin project.
Fall
2026
Woodworking classes at The Folk School
We’ll be offering a series of classes over the fall and winter to build the furniture and outbuildings for the cabin. There will be lots of opportunities to learn new skills and get involved!
Feb
20-21
Cabin Dismantle
Volunteers Needed! We’ll dismantle the cabin shell where it currently stands in Fairbanks and prepare it for transport to the White Mountains.
Feb 22-25
OR
Mar 1-4
Snowmachine brigade in the White Mountains
Volunteers Needed! Dates to be confirmed.
Well need a snowmachine brigade and an army of volunteers to help us safely transport the logs out to the site.
Mar 15
– Apr 4
Cabin Rebuild
This is the barn raising-Folk School style!
There will be many opportunities to help and learn, whether you’re interested in how to move logs with no heavy equipment or want to keep the coffee situation top-notch for the crew, we will need all hands. Sign up for specific phases of the rebuild if or spend a couple amazing weeks camped out in the White Mountains, if that’s your jam! More details to come on specific dates and opportunities, but mark your calendars for March 15-April 4 for the rebuild!
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Naming Tobi’s Cabin
The current Folk School log cabin project has been made possible by an anonymous donor. This benefactor had a much beloved a much beloved skijor dog named Tobi who accompanied them on many an adventure, out into the mountains and to many a cabin. In honor of the donor’s generous contributions, and in the spirit of true friendship, the cabin will be named Tobi’s Cabin.