THOMPSONVILLE -- A radio blasts in one corner and a power tool buzzes in another room of the small, blue-sided house built by students.
But it's the sounds you don't hear that make this construction site on this particular weekday notable.
No complaining, no cussing.
From a back room, the sound of one kid singing drifted down a hallway.
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Career-Tech Center students are building a home in Thompsonville for Habitat for Humanity of Benzie County. Instructor Ronald Gray is the first to acknowledge that the 38 building trades students aren't perfect, but he's proud of what they've done. Construction on the three-bedroom, one-bathroom house began in mid-September, and it's ahead of schedule.
"I could compliment almost every kid on what they've accomplished," Gray said. "I look at the talent that they've got and start there and build."
The house is located on Day Avenue in Thompsonville, a hamlet of about 440 people. Blocks away is a big blue water tower with the village name printed in large letters, and just a few miles off is Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa.
On school days, students from Bear Lake, Buckley, Benzie Central and Frankfort-Elberta schools drive to the construction site to work for a few hours on morning or afternoon shifts.
"It's like a lot of hands on, not really a lot of classroom work," said Dillon Collins, 18, and a Buckley senior.
The students vary from special needs to college-bound, Gray said. The class is math-intensive and students learn to read blueprints. They also conduct self-evaluations and grade themselves on qualities such as initiative, attitude and dependability.
A partnership with Habitat made sense given the current economic and real estate climate.
"We have always done a spec house, but when the market went a little flat we thought maybe we'd better look (around)," said Gray.
This is the first Habitat house. Habitat provided the property and funded the construction. Last year, building students worked on projects for the Benzie Housing Council. Students said it feels good knowing their work is for a good cause as well as educational.
Several of the young builders said a career in construction is something they're testing out but aren't sure about.
"This is just a trial," said Carol Clark, 19, of Buckley, and the only female in the class.
She decided to enroll because she thought she'd "do something fun."
David Soper, 18, is a senior at Frankfort-Elberta and considers himself a "visual learner." He knew a bit about basic construction techniques when he started but has learned more.
"It's been fine. Everyone seems to get along," he said.
Habitat board president Les Poggemeyer said one of the goals in the organization's long-range plan is to involve youth in Habitat.
"(It) just seemed natural that we would start with a build," he said.
A family has already been selected for the house, which should be move-in ready by early May.
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