Education & Classes in Vail

The Practical Chef schools fledgling foodies in an approachable environment with the added benefit of certified executive chef Craig Nassar's years of gourmet know-how. Hands-on classes ($65¬–$90) include all necessary ingredients and equipment—saving you the trouble of transporting your industrial-grade meat tenderizer by city bus—and offer a delightful repertoire of beginner and intermediate techniques open to all experience levels. Basic Cooking Techniques gets newbies up to speed on the nitty-gritty of browning meats, whipping up sauces, cooking grains, roasting root vegetables, and cooking leafy greens, while the katana-sharp Knife Skills class trains slicing sempais to mince, dice, and julienne with dignity and honor. Upcoming tutorials include pasta workshops, where students learn to fashion a variety of fresh noodles and seasonal sauces from scratch—an ethereal substance made from leprechaun hair, comet dust, and the residue of one’s first kiss. The Enticing Tapas class, meanwhile, covers an array of small plates provocative enough to inspire even the most bashful schoolmarm to flamenco her way across the gas range. At the end of each class, ravenous students get to feed on their freshly prepared meal before toting the recipes home for later replication.

Saguaro Aquatics' indoor and outdoor swimming pools double as recreational venues and classrooms. Instructors guide swimmers 6 months and older in group or private swimming lessons that cover the techniques for mastering strokes and growing gills. The noncompetitive synchronized-swimming club practices their aquatic art form twice weekly, and boot camp participants jump in and out of the pool for boxing, cardio, and swimming exercises. During Kids' Night Out, little ones enjoy themed games, crafts, and snacks while a projector showcases a kid-appropriate movie on a 15-foot screen. The club recently expanded its portfolio to include the landsport tennis.

A small group of explorers stands beneath an open dome of night sky as pinpricks of starlight glitter against the expanse's dark blues and blacks. Each spot of light even seems to look much clearer from here—likely because the group is standing 9,157 feet above sea level. At the Stewart Observatory inside Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter at the mountain's summit, scientists guide visitors through the use of gear such as a 32-inch Schulman telescope—the state's largest public viewing telescope—to probe the far reaches of space to learn about celestial phenomena and take in magnified images of the universe just above.

Days and nights at the center bring a slew of learning experiences to budding astronomers. Accompanied by University of Arizona scientists, Discovery Days lead explorations of topics such as tree rings, hummingbirds, and meteorology, frequently beckoning students into the surrounding outdoors. During nightly SkyNights programming, groups summit Mt. Lemmon for a five-hour evening of dining and stargazing at the observatory. One-on-one time with heavenly bodies comes courtesy of Astronomer Nights, wherein site staffers grant singles or pairs lodging, private access to the Schulman telescope, and the chance to contribute directly to the field upon discovering a supernova, nebula, or handlebar mustache on the man in the moon.

Periodically, the scientific team also expounds on specific topics, such as digital celestial imaging, with the public in multiple-day workshops. Each participant builds on the Stewart Observatory's list of achievements since 1970, which include furthering infrared astronomy, surveying the moon for Apollo lunar landings, and searching for near-Earth asteroids.

Despite what owner Rachel Yaseen has discovered for herself, she knows that cooking organic, healthful meals might seem intimidating to some. At The Organic Kitchen, she works to banish those impressions and inspire students with her own enthusiasm for natural foods, whether through cooking classes or intensive workshops. “Students learn to eat outside of the industrial food chain,” noted reporter Emily Gindlesparger of Zócalo Tucson magazine, “developing instead the creativity to source from their own yards and work with ingredients available in the Southwest throughout the seasons.”

Pupils learn to improve their eating habits and concoct quick and simple at-home feasts that draw on local veggies, grains, beans, herbs, and spices. Each class features only gluten-free recipes, and the sessions focus on culinary traditions from India, the Mediterranean, and other regions. Pantry makeovers go even further, helping facilitate lifestyle shifts with cooking classes and one-on-one coaching to rid kitchens of powdered hot dogs. When not educating, the chefs handcraft gluten- and soy-free Hiker-Biker bars from local honey and dates.

Pupils learn to improve their eating habits and concoct quick and simple at-home feasts that draw on local veggies, grains, beans, herbs, and spices. Each class features only gluten-free recipes, and the sessions focus on culinary traditions from India, the Mediterranean, and other regions. Pantry makeovers go even further, helping facilitate lifestyle shifts with cooking classes and one-on-one coaching to rid kitchens of powdered hot dogs. When not educating, the chefs handcraft gluten- and soy-free Hiker-Biker bars from local honey and dates.

CYT Tucson immerses kids in a supportive environment that nurtures discipline and self-confidence while instructing the future thespians in the arts of the stage. Their introductory Rising Stars program acquaints children aged 5–7 to the magic of drama through games, dance, and the lesson that emotions can be faked to influence people other than relatives and mall Santas. Older students can enroll in specialized classes and devote their attention to the triple-threat disciplines of singing, dancing, and acting. They may also branch out into specialty courses on such topics as improv and stage fighting. Leading its charges through the production of a fully realized musical, the center also stages several shows, including past productions of Pocahontas and Annie in recent years.

Carol Sottosanti inherited her love of hitting high notes and cutting rugs from her father, an opera singer who inspired her to pursue a degree in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. Naturally, Carol wanted her children to also experience the beauty and exhilaration of performing on stage, but she couldn't find a program that would grant her kids the proper exposure and practice they needed. Teaming up with other moms in the community, Carol organized a few small shows starring the neighborhood's charismatic children, and subsequently, Kids Unlimited was born. Since its inception in 1986, KU Studios still produces shows regularly, preparing their young performers with various classes in vocal performance, dance, and acting. Aspiring triple threats can dive into a wide variety of camps designed to hone singing and dancing skills, while promoting awareness of important topics such as bullying or the proliferation of mimes in Tucson. KU's outstanding performers earn their way into small-group ensembles that perform regularly throughout the community.