Alert readers may recall a story I did in 2017 about Roy Case's evolving Western Cedar Birdhouse business/hobby. Using scrap ends of cedar boards left over from another project he began building "duplex-style" birdhouses. That was version 1.0, to use the current style of naming evolving high tech products (Roy's birdhouses are kind of high tech). Then came version 2.0, a single occupant birdhouse that went beyond the traditional birdhouse with Roy's own unique additions-outdoor toilets, woodpiles, stove pipes and, always, the burned on outline of Montana.

Roy recently invited me to come see his most recent take on birdhouses. This version, now 3.0, is similar to the last version but the builders are Meadowlark students under Roy's instruction and guidance. Here's some of what I learned on a recent visit to the high school's workshop.

Meet the builders

By the time I arrived at the high school's shop the tools, wood and supplies were all arranged. The three young builders had on their safety glasses and were adding walls to a birdhouse platform. For two of the students it was the start of their second or third birdhouse. One student had already completed her four houses that are built by each student in the program and she was helping one of her co-workers.

The three current Meadowlark students in the building program are Amanda Finley, 5th grade, Piper Skoyen, 4th grade and Tyrell Small, 5th grade. Roy said among the three they have completed "seven or eight birdhouses. When a student completes their fourth house, they'll be replaced with a new builder." Amanda has completed her fourth birdhouse and was helping until she's replaced.

Each builder had their own take on what they liked about building the birdhouses. Piper Skoyen said, "I'm learning things about tools and how to build that I can use to help my dad at the ranch." Tyrell Small also had a practical take explaining, "I'm using a power tool (the brad gun) and It's fun to watch the house come together." Amanda Finley liked "actually doing something rather than watching someone else do it." A birdhouse Amanda entered in the recent Seed Show won an 'overall champion ribbon' and a $100 prize. Telling that story brought a big smile to her face.

But, as the young builders learned, the process has challenges. Tyrell explained, "The hardest thing to build is the roof (built separately then added when the walls are completed) because it has a lot of nails and has to be perfectly square to fit on the walls." Piper agreed, "...the roof, it's very hard to get it exactly right." Having completed four houses, Amanda also agreed the roof was the hardest part, but added, "It's also hard to remember which pieces go on the house in which order."

Roy said each house has 50+ separate parts and he has to really monitor the students to make sure they glue and nail the right piece in the right location and sequence. He added, "After building about 1,000 of the birdhouses I sort of do it by 'muscle memory.' He'd told me earlier he likes to do four at a time as it is more efficient that completing one at a time and then starting a new one.

The builders have been thinking ahead how they might use the new skills they've acquired. Asked how they plan to use what they've learned, Piper said, "I want to build a bunch of houses and sell them at the county fair." Amanda added, "I want to build more houses and might get to work at Roy's workshop in the summer." Roy has a shop at home devoted to building and painting the birdhouses. He's currently covering the costs of the wood and supplies and the students use his tools.

For Roy, it's "building a legacy"

Roy asked about doing volunteer work at the school to help students that needed a little one-on-one help. "Someone told the superintendent," he added, "about the birdhouses I build. He suggested I work with some students building birdhouses and the program was launched."

Roy shared with me earlier that he had been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, a very aggressive disease. Asked if that had anything to do with starting this program, he said, "Not really, my motivation was to help kids by volunteering." He added, "I guess you could say I am leaving a legacy of building with these kids. Folks won't remember me as a truck or school bus driver but these kids will, hopefully, remember me as the birdhouse builder."

Amanda Finley put it well. Not consciously referencing anything about a legacy, she said, "Mr. Case is the best birdhouse building teacher in the world." That's high praise coming from a source close to the teacher.