Education & Classes in Lackawanna

From May to October, the white sails of keelboats dot the waters along the shore of Lake Erie. There, head instructor Captain Pierre Wallinder leads the ASA-certified staff of Sail Buffalo Sailing School in a handful of courses to demystify the art of wind navigation. Watchful instructors help students earn their basic keelboat certification, explore the nuances of the lake's waters, or learn to properly recite passages from Moby Dick from the bow of a ship. Tender-footed youths can take part in nautical day camps that teach kids both the basics of sailing and fundamental lessons in teamwork and organization.

The consortium of professional instructors at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, which was cofounded by the legendary toe tapper himself, shepherds students of all ages and skill levels through lessons that span the style spectrum. Low-pressure private sessions allow enthusiastic teachers to fine-tune individual students' techniques and form, using their expert eyes and mechanical dancing shoes preprogrammed to do the Charleston. Patrons can learn how to cavort through classic waltz and fox-trot romps or swivel through the modern steps of salsa, swing, or samba. For dancers hoping to hoof it up in a social setting, the group practice parties provide a one-night extravaganza of instruction, demonstrations, and amateur firewalking.

Reading, writing, and mathematics don't come easily for everyone. At Canadian Learning Centre, dedicated staff members harness their own expertise to connect with adults and kids and guide them toward mastering their areas of difficulty. A phonics-based curriculum familiarizes students with vowels and consonants and helps them easily distinguish between silent letters and the ones that shout out loud. In writing sessions, pupils learn to apply grammatical rules and proper punctuation as they write stylish paragraphs. During mathematics sessions, students cover the basics, including addition and measurements, as well as more advanced skills such as calculus, geometry, and trigonometry.

Founded with the goal of introducing pupils of all ages to the visual arts, Bronte Art Academy coaxes forth the inner Renoirs within all those who enter the studio during a host of hands-on lessons and camps. Under the capable direction of Paul Ross Sandilands, a local portrait artist who has taught at the Ontario College of Art & Design and served as a painting companion to Canadian artist Harold Town, budding masters explore their potential with a variety of artistic media, from watercolour to graphite. Paul also shares his knowledge, techniques, and passion for creative expression during in-studio sessions, where students can create their own take-home masterpieces portraying family, the ocean at sunset, or Roger Clemens as a 19th-century robber baron.

Ontario College of Health & Technology educates its students to herald a healthier and safer tomorrow. Through programs that focus on disciplines as diverse as massage therapy and private investigation, the private career college readies pupils for long-term success in their chosen field. Yet the school expands its scope beyond career tracks, offering the casual learner an arsenal of new skills. The culinary department, for example, takes two forms: by day, Red Seal–certified cooking instructors train full-time students to become chefs in restaurants and hotels, but by night, they oversee proteges' first steps into the kitchen or second steps back into the kitchen after realizing they left their headlights on. In comprehensive workshops, students learn to properly sauté, simmer, and bake dishes so that they can treat their family to a nice meal or throw a fitting party for a foodie friend.

Working with one of the country's most famous artists might cause some to rest on their laurels, but for Patricia Corsini, the years she spent as a personal assistant and photographer to renowned artist Robert Bateman only pushed her to keep exploring. Robert's sweet tooth led Patricia to culinary school at George Brown College, after which she became executive chef of Cook Gourmet Inc., where culinary experts show aspiring cooks how to craft elegant dishes.

In one of the company's many cooking classes, Sunshine en Provence courses lead students through each step of creating a bistro-style meal, and Some Like It Haute! sessions focus on stylish summertime meals. Classes are taught in a gourmet kitchen with a wide assembly of tools at students' disposal.

Cook Gourmet Inc.'s crew also caters events small and large, even providing personal-chef services for clients' dinner parties.

In one of the company's many cooking classes, Sunshine en Provence courses lead students through each step of creating a bistro-style meal, and Some Like It Haute! sessions focus on stylish summertime meals. Classes are taught in a gourmet kitchen with a wide assembly of tools at students' disposal.

Cook Gourmet Inc.'s crew also caters events small and large, even providing personal-chef services for clients' dinner parties.