● Plans: online for free e.g.. https://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/bird-house-plans.html and

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/n-r/

RobinNestBoxPlans_Henderson.jpg

● Lumber – local sawmills or hardware stores, friends and family

- one local sawmill had some types of wood e.g.. outer surface of log scraps available for free - networking – friends and family that have lumber and/or scraps around from projects e.g.. part of a plywood sheet

● Screws: hardware store – bulk packages

● Screwdrivers and Sandpaper: tools around the house (label with your name), pick up cheaply at community sales e.g.. estate sales, garage sales, donations

● Gloves: what I had around house, the Behavioural Support nurse had bought some for

● having on hand for residents to be able to use for outdoor garden activities and future ideas of sanding wood activity.

● Outdoor Craft Paint and Glue – Michaels (sale coupons) and what was in craft kits

and online Birdhouse Craft kits – online, Walmart, small ones to paint and decorate from dollar stores, Michaels, etc...

● Outdoor protective sealant: optional – someone may have at home or hardware store

• Maybe FC members have these items lying around that could be donated?

Preparation of Material

- People with tools – saws and drills willing to volunteer – friends, family, local organizations e.g.. started reaching out (e.g.. local chapter of the “MensShed” ); label the pieces top, bottom, right, left, inside or outside e.g.. in pencil for assembling easily. - bag wood and screws (in a smaller bag e.g.. Ziploc) for each birdhouse separately (easy to grab for resident)

Activity: Discuss activity - plan date, add to calendar (recreation staff, FC members, Resident Council); one hour session block appeared to be a good amount of time for a group

- Room/space will dictate how many can participate at a time.

- Going to Resident’s Houses - wings increased participation numbers and allowed residents on secure floors access to the activity.

- Loved ones with moderate to advanced dementia that staff and family thought would not be able to participate and interact were able to use screwdrivers and would complete a whole birdhouse or did get into painting. GO FOR IT!

- How many volunteers and how much support from staff impacts participation levels eg. supporting by bringing residents to activity, getting them a chair, being able to provide one-on-one as needed.