Workshops

Learning with Leftovers - all workshops/inservices comply with NYS Learning Standards
i.e. math, els, science, all arts, social studies, culture etc.

IMPORTANT NOTE - due to our move in December 2007 our community warehouse presently operates out of storage trailers with no real facility for workshops (no heat or light). Once our new bus is fully functional, expected by August 2009, we expect this unit to house our workshops both at our site or yours. We will announce this on our website when that happens. Until then, onsite tours and fieldtrips are available during our closed hours on a limited basis and are specific to each group size, age and available supervision.

All workshops/inservices are available at your place or ours (recommended) & may be combined with field trips for your class/group. The list below has some suggested ideas or work with us to design your own. Each workshop listed below has an "age appropriateness" designation.

Our workshops include resource conservation education as it pertains to our materials and best use practices for working with our "stuff". We use the concept of "life cycle inventory" (total picture of resources used to manufacture some of our materials) to teach conscientious consumption (conscious consideration of resources consumed for unnecessary product purchase). We use an online tool developed by the Envrironmental Defense Fund ( www.edf.org/papercalculator/) to calculate resources saved in a waste reduction project and demonstrate the life cycle inventory concept.

Workshop fees - materials included
- we have several ways of making fees work for you, call us for suggestions if these fees don't comply with your budget.

at HVME - $100 first hours & $75 for hour thereafter
at your location - $200 first hour - must be prepaid based on the following:

these fees include programming for up to 30 people (less if at our site). Groups over this amount must be negotiated for price and expectation

  • Other Particulars:
  • minimum age - 6 (older if at our site unless your supervision is 1 adult/2 children)
  • Attention teachers & day care providers - our workshops may comply with your district's/license inservice requirements - check with your school district to be sure.

Library Programs (not limited to libraries)
Our "Learning with Leftovers" program offers inspiring, innovative, interactive activities for all ages focusing on resource conservation through the use of our unique materials. Participants will jump into our "waste stream", retrieve reusables and recyclables then create something new with the materials they've rescued. We offer choices of theme related programs such as "Storymaking: Thinking Outside the Book!" and/or creative, freewheeling "materials smorgasbords". Our Reuse-a-Bus (traveling store) is also available by special arrangement.

Sample programs:

Full day Reuse -a- Bus - 6 hours at your location can include shopping, librarian/eduator training, kids programming, etc. $700.00 (includes $300 worth of materials)

Thinking Outside the Book - Storytellling in 3D - one hour workshops $200.00
Participants will be presented with all sorts of unusual materials along with a variety of story starters as they let their imaginations take flight.

- Adventure Treasure Trove ( Grades K-2)
- Origins Treasure Trove (Grades 3-up)

Block programming available with or without the Reuse-a-Bus.

Below are some workshop ideas - availability of a specific workshop is based on availability of the materials used to develop these workshops and the staff to conduct them. We are always interested in new ideas and offer some financial consideration and partnering for learning plans that move our program forward.

- Art supplies in Unexpected Places (i.e. Preparing Surfaces for Painting)
- Storymaking; Thinking Outside the Book
- Creative Framing Techniques
- Sculpture from Scrap ---- k-12
- Collage & Decoupage --- 6th-12th
- Making Flower Presses --- k-12
- Creative Gifts from Garbage! --- k-12
- Marionettes - wood & fabric ---9th-12th
- Mixed media weaving --- 5th-12th
- Painting on Transparent Surfaces --- k-12
- Stamps from Wood Scraps --- k-12
- Wood sculpture --- 5th-12th
- Mixed Media Assemblages --- k-12
- Patriotic wood work --- 3rd-12th
- Home Decor with Reusables --- 6th-12th
- Treasure boxes - creative storage --- 5th-12th
- Temporary Murals --- k-12
- Sculpture from Wire --- k-12
- Creative Cabinet Painting --- 6th-12th
- Make Your Own School Supplies -- k-12
- Presentation Materials --- 6th-12th
- Jewelry Making --- 5th-12th
- Primitive Printmaking--- k-12
- Scare Crow --- K-12
- Marrionette, wood & fabric --- K-12
- Toys from Reusables --- k-12

Wearable Art
 - Jewelry from Junk --- k-12
- Spookwear & Goblinware --- K-12th
- Costume Making --- k-12
- Cards from Discards --- k-12
- Mobiles from Junk --- 3rd-12