Discover Endless Learning at FGCU Academy – Register Today!

Hundreds of lectures. Knowledgeable instructors. 
Join us in-person at one of over 20 locations
or participate online.


         
Winter / Spring January – May 2025
PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE
ONLINE OR VIA PHONE  


Keep your mind active and engaged!
Register for a lecture or special event with FGCU Academy!  
   

Discover Exciting Opportunities at FGCU Academy!  

FGCU Academy is still going strong! We have a great line-up of offerings for you
this week.

Technology: Dive into the latest advancements in Email – this session is perfect
for tech enthusiasts.

Time: Understand the concept of time and how it influences our lives. Delve into
its mysteries, from ancient calendars to modern timekeeping.

Collier County Historical Properties: Discover the rich history of Collier Coun-
ty through its historical properties. Learn about the architecture, stories, and signifi-
cance of these landmarks.

Taking care of you while you are busy taking care of others: A session dedicated
to self-care for those who tirelessly care for others. Learn strategies to maintain your
well-being while supporting others.

Learning Roulette for fun: Ever wondered about the game of roulette? This session
will teach you the basics and strategies of roulette in a fun and engaging way.

What is happening with the Current State of Policing:
Gain insights into the current state of policing. Explore the challenges, changes, and
future directions in law enforcement.

Musical history: Journey through the history of music, exploring different genres,
influential musicians, and key moments that shaped the music industry.

Will there be another trip to Mars?: Delve into the exciting possibilities of space
exploration. Learn about the latest missions to Mars and what the future holds for inter-
planetary travel.

Feel free to join us for any of these engaging sessions and more, and explore the diverse
topics we have in store for you!  

Check out some details about our day trips below along with our newly added 2026 inter-
national trips.  

Scroll below to view details of classes and see what interests you. Register today!    

VIEW WINTER/SPRING PROGRAM GUIDE HERE  

REGISTER FOR COURSES HERE  

Call our office for assistance with your registrations at 239.434.4737.


View 2025 Winter / Spring Program Guide  

View Here  

Feel free to print catalog at home, or just print the specific pages that interest you.  

View our Chronological Calendar by date beginning on page 8. 
Just look for your available dates and see everything being offered that day.  

View our LATE EDITIONS page at back of catalog on page 67.    

Day Trips and Special Events


Miami Millionaire’s Row™ Boat Cruise &
Bayside Marketplace
March 20 | 8 – 6pm |Thursday
Miami  

Enjoy a fully-narrated 90-minute cruise and enjoy spectacular views of Biscayne Bay, the
Miami Skyline, Port of Miami, Fisher Island, Miami Beach and Millionaire’s Row™ –
the Homes of the Rich and Famous™. Soft drinks, cocktails and light snacks are available
for purchase. A modern yacht offers the utmost comfort and style. Each vessel features an
air-conditioned lower salon enclosed in picture windows, as well as an upper-deck where
you can take in the fresh ocean breeze and an awning that will protect you from direct sun-
light and light seasonal showers. After the cruise, enjoy time for some lunch and shopping
at the Bayside Marketplace, one of Miami’s most popular destinations. Departure informa-
tion will be emailed 3 days prior to trip. Itineraries are subject to change. 

No refunds within 10 business days of departure.


The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg
March 27 | 8 – 6pm |Thursday
St. Pete 

Our private, docent-led tour takes us through the highlights of the permanent collection as
well as a brand-new exhibition, The Shape of Dreams. The Shape of Dreams explores 500
years of dream-inspired paintings from the 16th to 20th century, demonstrating how artists
throughout time have depicted a profound yet common phenomenon of human experience –
the dream. The exhibition examines how Western artists have depicted dreams for different
audiences throughout time, exploring the continuity and disconnections between the past
and present. Our tour includes round-trip motor coach transportation, driver gratuity, en-
trance fees, a private docent-led tour and audio guides. Lunch is on your own. Departure
information will be emailed 3 days prior to the trip. Itineraries are subject to change.

No refunds within 10 business days of departure.  

FEATURED LECTURES  


iPhone/iPad Apps: Mastering Email
 
March 10 | 10:30 – 12pm | Monday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Many iPhone and iPad users do not fully understand how to use Mail, one of the most
important apps on their devices. Apple’s Mail app supports Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft
Exchange, AOL and nearly all email platforms. We explore the detailed workings of
the Apple Mail app showing you how to add new accounts and contacts, work with
attachments, insert photos or videos, organize email into folders, eliminate junk mail,
markup or sign attachments, scan documents and much more.


The Perception of Time: Understanding Chronos
 
March 10 | 1:30 – 3pm | Monday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

What is time? How we perceive time is a fascinating mix of psychology and philosophy
combined with the mingling of our consciousness and our memories. Learn more about
how time is mentally constructed and significantly personalized as it ebbs and flows
throughout our life.


National Register of Historic Property Sites in Collier County
 
March 11 | 1:30 – 3pm | Tuesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

This lecture delves into the significance of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP),
the official federal list recognizing sites of historical, architectural, and cultural importance
across the U.S. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the NRHP’s origins,
its role in preserving the nation’s heritage, and the criteria used to evaluate and add prop-
erties to this esteemed list. A special focus will be placed on Collier County, showcasing
notable local properties that have achieved NRHP status. Attendees will explore the uni-
que stories behind landmarks such as the historic Smallwood Store in Chokoloskee, the
Everglades Laundry Building, and the Naples Depot. By examining these treasures, parti-
cipants will discover how Collier County’s rich heritage is interwoven with the broader tap-
estry of Florida’s and America’s history.

Caring for the Caregiver: A Road Map for Success
 
March 12 | 10 – 11:30am | Wednesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Join us for an interactive presentation about successful techniques to help avoid caregiver
burnout. Key topics will include warning signs, steps to plan ahead, tips on ways to com-
municate with a loved one, caregiver toolkit ideas, senior care options, the role of a senior
care advisor and much more.


Learn to Play Roulette  

March 12 | 10 – 12pm | Wednesday
Naples Center  

Our instructor has two roulette wheels, tables and chips ready to teach you how to play
and hopefully win the fun game of chance, roulette. Roulette pays some of the best re-
turns of all the tables or machines in a casino. You will learn the rules of the game, the
myriads of bets and combos to play, and gain insight into methodologies you can use
to try to beat the house. This program is for instructional purposes only, no gambling
or betting will occur.


The Current State of American Policing  

March 12 | 1:30 – 3pm | Wednesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Police and law enforcement have become a lightning rod for controversy. While some com-
munity members worry about public safety, demand greater police presence and more force-
ful law enforcement, others fear that the call for aggressive policing will lead to incidents of
excessive force and police brutality. The demand to defund the police has been heard in sev-
eral communities. Because of this increased interest in the police and the focus the media has
put on officer actions it has become evident that a hard look at the current state of policing in
America is needed. What are the most significant problems and how are they being addressed?


History of American Musical Theatre: Late 19th – 21st Century  

March 12 | 1:30 – 3pm | Wednesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

This lecture offers an overview of the history of the American Musical Theatre, with its roots
in European operetta and Early American Vaudeville. Historical periods from the late 19th
century (French and Viennese operetta, American Vaudeville and early American Operetta),
followed by the early the 20th century (the 1920s and 30s, including “Showboat”, the first tru-
ly American musical) and Broadway’s “Golden Age” (“Kiss me Kate”, “Oklahoma”, “My Fair
Lady”, etc.) will be covered. Works of the last half of the 20th century (including major works
such as “West Side Story” and “A Little Night Music”) will be presented, along with musical
examples. Composers include Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Rodgers and
Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Lerner and Loewe, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim,
among others.


Voyage to Mars  

March 13 | 10 – 11:30am | Thursday
Moran Education Center  

In 2020, three missions were launched from Earth with the destination of Mars. All three
missions arrived at Mars in February 2021. The first Mission was by United Arab Emir-
ates named the Hope Probe. The second was by China named the Tianwen-1 Mission.
The third was by NASA named The Perseverance. The Hope Probe will remain in orbit
and analyze Mars’ weather patterns. The Tianwen-1 Probe has an orbiter, a lander and a
rover. Perseverance has a lander, rover and helicopter drone. The helicopter drone flew
72 missions on Mars. This lecture examines the objectives of each mission and provides
updates on their accomplishments to date. Join us for a fascinating discussion about the
forefront of space travel and exploration in the 21st century. Our speaker was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work on the Apollo 13 mission which safely
returned the three astronauts to earth after an explosion occurred in their Service Mod-
ule 200,000 miles from earth on its way to the moon.  

Weekly Guide – March 5 – 12  
Click on any class below to see more information and to register  

Monday March 10
General Douglas MacArthur
Long Term Care Insurance: Protecting Your Independence
The Challenge of Separating Church and State
The Road to Disunion: The Roots of the American Civil War  

Tuesday March 11
World War II: The Italian Campaign and Anzio
Against All Odds: The Ordeal of Ernest Shackleton and The Crew of the Endurance  

Wednesday March 12
War for a Cause (2-part series) / Religious Wars
iPhone/iPad: iOS 18 Tips, Tricks and Secrets All Users Should Know
The Current State of American Policing
Memory Institute: Train Your Brain to Retain  

Thursday March 13
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Major Motion Picture Industry
The Dutch East India Company: They Meant Business
War at the Shore: Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore During World War II
Van Gogh in Provence: Poets, Lovers, Peasants and Nature
Immigration 2025: Crossroads of “Legal” and “Illegal” Immigrationi
Phone/iPad Apps: Photo Organization, Editing, Sharing and More in iOS 18  

Friday March 14
Charlemagne: The Carolingian Empire
The Spanish Armada – A Magnificent Myth!      

 

 
CONSIDER BECOMING A FRIEND OF
THE ACADEMY WITH A $100 DONATION  


AS A NON-CREDIT PROGRAM WE RECEIVE NO FUNDING FROM FGCU.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
OUTREACH MISSION.  

To donate, simply:
1. Visit our website at Academy | Online Giving (fgcu.edu).
2. Send a check payable to FGCU Academy with “Friend of the Academy Donation” in the memo line.      
3. Or, contact us at 239-434-4737 to arrange a donation over the phone.  

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to a program that celebrates lifelong growth.
Together, we’re enriching lives, one class at a time.      

2025 TRAVEL PROGRAMS  

Travel with FGCU Academy

 

 
Northern Italy: From the Alps
to the Adriatic

Departure August 20, 2025  

View Brochure

 
Journey Through Central Europe
Departure: August 30, 2025  

View Brochure

 
Insider’s Japan
Departure September 8, 2025  

View Brochure

 
Paradores and Pousadas:
Portugal & Spain

Departure: September 15, 2025  

View Brochure

 
Machu Picchu to the Galapagos
Departure October 28, 2025  

View Brochure

 
Egypt and the Eternal Nile
Departure: November 17, 2025  

View Brochure

 
Moroccan Discovery: From the
Imperial Cities to the Sahara
Departure November 18, 2025  

View Brochure

   
Portugal and the Douro
River Cruise

Departure: September 17, 2025  

View Brochure  

View Video Presentation

   
Gems of Eastern Europe River
Cruise Hungary, Croatia, Serbia,
Bulgaria, Romania,


Departure September 24, 2025
 

View Brochure  

View Video Presentation        

Travel Abroad with FGCU Academy in 2026  

Travel Brochures will be available shortly


 
Splendors of Europe River Cruise –
Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia,
Hungary, Austria

Departure: May 1, 2026

 
Norwegian Splendor
Departure: September 5, 2026  

View Brochure  

 
Colorful Canyons & Beautiful Balloons –
America’s Greatest National Parks

Departure: September 24, 2026

 
Journey Through Britain
Departure September 28, 2026  

View Brochure    

Call our office 239.434.4737  for assistance
with registration or Click to View our Website

 
Greek Islands & Turkish Coastline
Yacht Cruise

Departure August 28, 2026

 
Portugal and the Douro River Cruise
Departure September 16, 2026

 
Enchanting Ireland
Departure September 27, 2026  

View Brochure

 
Sicily in Depth
Departure October 1, 2026  

View Brochure

 
Pearls of Dalmatia
Departure October 12, 2026
 
View Brochure  


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FGCU Academy

FGCU ACADEMY NAPLES CENTER
704 Goodlette-Frank Rd N Suite 330
Naples, FL 34102  

239.434.4737  

[email protected]