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!  
     

This week’s offerings are quite diverse and exciting. Start with the soothing and
rejuvenating practice of Yoga Nidra online, perfect for unwinding and finding in-
ner peace. Dive deep into the world of Apple devices with the detailed class on
mastering iPhone/iPad Apps, where you’ll learn to navigate Safari effortlessly
and manage your schedule like a pro. For history enthusiasts, there’s a lecture
on Mary Queen of Scots, offering a rich exploration into her tumultuous life and
significant impact on history. Military buffs can look forward to the session on
the World’s Greatest Army: The War Machine of Rome, uncovering the strate-
gies and might that defined Rome’s legendary military, Or Russian Intelligence
and Spycraft with Tom Eastwood. Additionally, there are two fantastic day trips
planned—one of which is almost sold out, so don’t miss your chance to join! And
back by popular demand is your detailed weekly calendar, ensuring you never miss
any of these amazing events. It looks like an engaging and enriching week ahead!    

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.  

Lectures at 
Moorings Park Grand Lake – 7410 Little Lane, Naples  

Moran Wealth Management Education Center
5801 Pelican Bay Blvd, Suite 110, Naples  

Featured

 
Yoga Nidra Meditation: Become Relaxed and
Serene (3-part monthly series)  


January 21 | 9 – 10am | Tuesday
Online via Zoom  

Speaker: Jane Carroo  

From the comfort and peace of your own home, calm and reset your body and
mind through the practice of Yoga Nidra Meditation. Yoga Nidra is the easiest
form of meditation. We may begin with some gentle stretching and breathing,
then ease into an ancient sleep-based meditation that is very relaxing. People
feel refreshed and their energy is recharged afterwards. Each session is equiv-
alent to 3 hours of deep sleep. Participants can sit in a chair, lie down on a so-
fa or yoga mat with a blanket.


iPhone/iPad Apps: Mastering Email  

January 21 | 10:30 – 11am | Tuesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Speaker: John Guerra  

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 G-
mail, 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.  


Mary Queen of Scots  

January 22 | 10 – 11:30am | Wednesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Speaker: Nancy Maxwell  

For love, power, intrigue and scandal you cannot beat the story of Mary Stuart!
She was Queen of Scotland at six days old, Queen of France at sixteen, and
had events gone as planned, Scotland would today be a part of France. Mary
fully expected to become Queen of England as well. Instead in a tragic twist
of fate, Mary lost her head. Her life was one of political ambition, intrigue,
love, murder, plots and deception. Did Mary create her own fate or was she
a victim of much stronger outside forces?  


World’s Greatest Army: The War Machine of Rome  

January 22 | 10 – 11:30am | Wednesday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Speaker: Gabriella Miyamoto  

This lecture offers a brief introduction to the army of the Roman Empire and the
type of warfare it waged during the High and Late Imperial periods. The infantry
legions were always the predominant Roman troops, responsible for the Empire’s
conquests at its height and for the ongoing protection of its borders, and we will
review the evolution of their weapons and armor, as well as the development of
Roman cavalry, artillery and siege craft. The lecture concludes with an overview
of the increasing “Germanic barbarization” of the Roman Army in the late 4th and
5th centuries that preceded the fall of the Empire in the west.



Russian Intelligence and Spycraft  

January 23 | 1:30 – 3pm | Thursday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Speaker: Thomas Eastwood

Soviet/Russian intelligence has been highly effective for over a century. During
World War II and the Cold War, their human intelligence was particularly success-
ful. We discuss their successes and failures and compare them to Western intelli-
gence. Topics include: intelligence effectiveness, structure, GRU, KGB, SVR, FSB,
FSO, Spetsnaz groups, atomic spies, Cold War spies, defectors, Cuban Missile Cri-
sis espionage, Russian Sleeper spies, The Cambridge Five, The Americans and
assassinations.


iPhone/iPad Apps: Master Safari Web Brow-
sing & Calendar Scheduling  


January 24 | 10 – 11:30am | Friday
Naples Center / Online via Zoom  

Speaker: John Guerra

Apple’s web browser, Safari, keeps getting faster and better. It sports a smart search
bar, tabs, and a special split view version for iPad users. Save your favorite websites
to your Home Screen or as Bookmarks. You can view Shared Links and add articles
to your Reading List or access your saved passwords and credit cards. Learn how to
use the Apple Calendar app so you never miss an appointment again. Schedule your
life and have access to your appointments on every device you own. Access your cal-
endar anytime or anywhere from any computing device in the world and know your
information is safely backed up.  

Week of January 20 – 24  
Click on any class below to see more information and to register  

Monday January 20

The Spanish Armada – A Magnificent Myth!
Marco Island Apple iOS 18 Tech Series: In Depth Boot Camp (3-part series)  

Wednesday January 22
Pathway to the Italian Renaissance: The Life, Impact and Legacy of the Art of Giotto
Five Eyes: Global Espionage, Eavesdropping and the Collection of Communications
Intelligence  

Thursday January 23
Getting Started with Android Smartphones: A Beginner’s Guide  

Friday January 24
iPhone/iPad: iOS 18 Tips, Tricks and Secrets All Users Should Know
Van Gogh in Provence: Poets, Lovers, Peasants and Nature  

Day Trips and Special Events


Miami South Beach and Art-Deco Tour  

January 28 | 8 – 6pm | Tuesday
Miami  

Tour Host: TBD

Join us as we experience the cultural, artistic and culinary delights of Miami’s South
Beach. Our walking tour takes us on a stroll through Ocean Drive, Collins and Wash-
ington to learn about art deco history, architecture and famous locations such as the
Versace mansion, Congress Hotel, the Breakwater, the Essex and more. As we explore,
the tour stops at various eateries so you can sample delicious food from 5-star gourmet
to hole-in-the-wall ethnic eateries. Departure information will be emailed 3 days prior
to the trip. Itineraries are subject to change. No refunds within 10 business days of de-
parture.  


Only 4 spots left
(Feb 27 – sold out)


Myakka Elephant Ranch Spa Enrichment
Experience and Lunch at Local Winery  


January 30 | 8 – 6pm | Thursday
Myakka City  

Tour Host: John Guerra

Meet magnificent elephants and participate in their daily care and bath time. You
will learn all about these incredible animals and then enjoy a relaxing lunch at a
local winery afterwards. No refunds within ten business days of departure.      

These day trips and Special Events are a fantastic way to enhance your learning
journey with FGCU Academy. Be sure to register early, as spots can fill up quickly!  

Click Here to View all of Our Upcoming Day Trips and Special Events  

If you would like to discuss any of our trips, please feel free to call our office anytime
as well as for assistance with your registrations at 239.434.4737.  

 

 

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


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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]