Classes in session at Fox Chapel Area Adult Education, some in-person

School is in session for Fox Chapel Area Adult Education.

Classes from history to home gardening are offered this winter, despite the program being stymied by the pandemic and its limitations on in-person learning.

“We have never stopped serving the community despite all the challenges these last two years,” Executive Director Sue Goodwin said.

“The only thing that really changed with the pandemic is that FCAAE no longer mails the traditional red and white brochure that people are used to getting.”

For years, FCAAE mailed 24,000 pamphlets to area homes with detailed descriptions of classes. The flyers went out twice a year and were a familiar go-to resource.

“I manned a table at Fox Chapel Day this fall and can’t tell you how many people said, ‘Oh we didn’t see your flyer so we assumed you were no longer offering classes,” Goodwin said.

To the contrary — winter classes are under way, with multi-week and one-night options that range from swim to photography, art to fitness. Costs start at $20.

More than two dozen options are available at fcaae.org.

Founded in 1963, FCAAE is an outreach program of the Fox Chapel Area School District that provides enrichment classes to adults at a low tuition.

The program receives facility support from the district but is kept financially afloat only through student tuition.

Goodwin said a limited number of in-person classes have resumed, including swimming and calligraphy.

“We significantly reduced class sizes to allow for the safest experience for our students,” she said.

Lap swims will be limited to one swimmer per lane and aqua exercise classes will shrink to one-third the pre-covid-size enrollment.

Calligraphy is designed so there’s only one student per table.

In spring 2020, FCAAE pivoted to an entire semester of Zoom classes to reinvent the way content was delivered. The switch allowed students to continue learning while district buildings were shut down.

Tech-savvy instructors re-imagined their courses to provide them online. The following semester, FCAAE drummed up a full schedule of Zoom classes in art, cooking, wine and spirits, fitness and health, history, photography, foreign languages and technology.

Goodwin said Zoom has attracted well-known Pittsburgh speakers who otherwise would not have time to provide in-person lecture.

Pittsburgh gardening guru Doug Oster will offer a two-class lecture on “How to have your best garden ever.” Sessions are online, Feb. 15 and 22.

Also in February, mind-body researcher Bruce Rabin will lead a three-week class on the immune system, titled “Coping with stress for your health and longevity.” It begins Feb 7.

Currently, scheduling information is shared via email and is also posted on the website at fcaae.org.

Goodwin encourages people to add themselves to the FCAAE email list to be alerted to new classes and registration dates.

“Classes are designed with busy adult schedules in mind,” she said. “There are no registration deadlines. FCAAE realizes carving out time is often a last-minute option. People can register minutes before and often even after class begins. Many classes are recorded so if a last-minute conflict arises, you can still learn.”

For more, call 412.696.1410 or email director@fcaae.org.