Education & Classes in Lexington-Fayette

As a boy, Brandon Morton indulged his fascination with airplanes and flying by going to every aviation show he could. Today, with more 3,500 hours of flight time—including more than 1,800 hours of flight instruction—he shares his passion for flying as co-owner and chief flight instructor of NexGen Aviation. Located at Bluegrass Field Airport—where they maintain a fleet of two Piper Warrior planes for single-engine training and a Diamond DA-42 Twin Star for multi-engine training—Brandon and his fellow instructors teach students through a blend of theoretical classroom work and hands-on scenario training. Through these courses, they prepare aspiring pilots to apply for their private, commercial, or professional pilot license. Further services range from sightseeing flights and aircraft sales and management to tutorials on how to properly fold a paper airplane.

The phone rings. Michael Clark picks it up. "He made it," the father of one of Phenom Baseball Academy's students exclaims over the line. "He made the team." Michael, a former pro-baseball player and current local scout for the San Diego Padres, has received this call from many parents. He started the academy after his time as a high-school coach put him face-to-face with numerous youth players who would try out for his team and clearly struggle, suffering from a lack of sound fundamentals. Michael and his group of seasoned coaches lead their group and individual training sessions inside a 4,700-square-foot training facility, which is furnished with quality field turf and three batting cages. During sessions, players aged 8–18 years old move about the expansive field, hitting, catching, and throwing under the guidance of up to four instructors. Parents who want to watch can do so from the upstairs viewing area, which positions them safely away from flying balls and the catcher's hand-signal requests for a juice box.

Paradise Divers’ cadre of qualified instructors draws on experience gleaned from more than 6,000 logged dives to impart everything from basic water-skills classes to full scuba and specialty certifications to pupils. The expert crew has certified more than 2,000 divers with its all-inclusive instruction programs and leads specialty diving getaways to remote and exotic locales. They are the only facility in Louisville to have their own indoor pool, heated to 85 degrees, which sets a comfortable, crustacean-free stage for underwater navigation, and doubles as a venue for private pool parties and special functions.

The Woodcraft name stretches from coast to coast with locations peppered throughout the United States, ensuring that Americans are well equipped with the brand-name tools and woodworking supplies needed to pursue handyman endeavors. At Woodcraft of Birmingham, a collection of hand tools waits patiently to hammer down nails and saw brave magician assistants in half, and a variety of power tools—including drills, sanders, and grinders—adds electric oomph to construction projects. In addition to performing in-store demonstrations of new products, the shop’s wise whittlers call upon more than 80 years of collective knowledge to lead various crafts classes, in which participants learn how to carve sophisticated pens, assemble wooden step stools, and use table saws.

A former University of Kentucky Dance Cat with more than 20 years of teaching experience, Traci Stone works to expand the dance community through recreational and competitive adult and youth classes. Whether putting together a fun routine or just allowing wee ones to wiggle out a chronic case of sillies, Traci’s team targets children’s imaginations with colorful costumes and annual performance exhibitions. For those who’ve long since traded their baby teeth for an investment portfolio, adult classes explore the basic techniques of ballet, tap, and belly dancing. Pointed toes and swaying stomachs take to the hardwood floor as natural light spills across Artistry in Motion's expansive studio, making bare and tap-clad feet dance more happily.

Students at Fast Track High Performance Driving School don't need to prove that they can parallel park—they're more concerned about taking a turn at more than 100 miles per hour. Most of them have never even felt the rumble of a 600-horsepower engine before. After plenty of safety debriefing from expert instructors, however, they usually are no longer intimidated by its purr. They'll then hop into the vibrant shell of an ARCA-style stock car, a former racing vehicle that's still capable of rocketing down the track at a blur-inducing speed of 165 miles per hour.

Since 1989, the school has been fulfilling speed-demon fantasies with its courses and ride alongs at racetracks throughout the country. The staff meets with everyday fans and aspiring competitors alike to cover racing protocol, safety, and appropriate postrace dance moves. Depending on the depth of their lesson, pupils might take the wheel during a four-car passing exercise or simply sit back in the passenger seat as a professional flies through three–five laps.