Seattle’s newest arts and environmental community organization, Seattle ReCreative, has announced its spring 2015 class and workshop schedule, which is slated to begin on April 20. The organization is offering a diverse range of classes for different age groups, skill levels, and interests, all of which focus on expanding experiences with art through reused materials.

Highlights from the upcoming class curriculum include Introduction to Bookbinding, in which participants will learn four different types of bookbinding stitches from artist Jennifer Kinney, and Family Woodworking Workshops, where children can learn to use real tools along with the help of a family member. Local teaching artists provide instruction for ReCreative’s workshops, and every class sources its materials from the reused items in ReCreative’s retail shop, which are donated by community members and businesses.

“ReCreative’s classes offer a unique mix of exploratory art-making, learning new skills, and increasing environmental awareness, which you can’t find anywhere else in the Seattle area,” said Co-Founder and Executive Director Jenna Boitano, who has two young children. “My own kids love the classes at ReCreative because they get to be creative and learn about protecting the environment at the same time.”

Seattle ReCreative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in the Greenwood neighborhood. ReCreative’s mission is to promote creativity, community, and environmental stewardship through creative reuse and arts education. The organization is a creative reuse center, a model that brings creativity and artistry together with environmental conservation.

ReCreative was founded in February 2014 by two Ballard moms and creative reuse advocates, Jenna Boitano and Emily Korson. The organization opened at its current location earlier this year and since then has taught over 250 children about art and environmental stewardship, and motivated community members to donate more than 1,000 hours of their time. Through this work, ReCreative has diverted 15 tons of material from the landfill so far this year (with the help of its partner-in-reuse, Ballard Reuse), which is the equivalent weight of about six cars or two large elephants.

The full course schedule and registration information is available on Seattle ReCreative’s website: www.seattlerecreative.org.