Catalina Foothills Community Schools offer a variety of adult and family enrichment classes that range from an introduction to Facebook to basket-weaving.
The classes, which range from free for some things to $90 for a nine-week pilates class, started more than 30 years ago and have grown into a program that offers activities for people of all ages.
"The goal is to share our campus with the community that supports us," said program coordinator Colleen Avender.
Classes are held at all the schools in the Catalina Foothills School District. The program is funded through class fees.
The program includes different sessions, including an after-school session and winter session, which just started. Every session offers new classes along with old favorites such as an adult aerobics class that began in the 1980s.
People are also reading…
Classes for the winter session began in January and continue into March. Some of the classes that have been added for the winter session include "Drawing for People Who Think They Can't," "Ms. Fix-It's Basic Tool Training for Women and Girls," "Using Facebook for Your Business" and "Taiko Drumming," Avender said. Taiko is an artistic drumming style that originates from Japan and uses large drums.
Mom Amy Hernandez uses the programs to keep her kids busy and help them learn. Her two boys, Evan, 7, and Ryan, 5, participate in after-school classes at Manzanita Elementary and in field trips offered during breaks from school.
"I'm an attorney, so I am picky and do my research because I want the best people for my kids," Hernandez said. "They are all just fabulous and so is the program."
Over winter break, the boys went to Tombstone and toured a mine.
"They love the classes," Hernandez said. "They have a good mix for both boy and girl interests. I like how they have a diverse selection."
Although today it includes classes for adults, the program focused on children when it began.
"The program started in 1977 by a group of people who saw a need for providing enrichment services before and after school for kids," said Travis Kolter, Community Schools director. "The first five years or so there was one part-time employee and volunteers providing services to kids, and then it extended to the community and started to grow into what it is today."
Community Schools employs 250 people a year, ranging from full time to a few hours week. The winter session offers 152 classes, and the upcoming summer pro-grams will offer more than 250 week-long specialty and enrichment camps.
Abigail Richardson is a University of Arizona journalism student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at 807-7776 or starapprentice@azstarnet.com
