| 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 a World of Learning and Exploration with FGCU Academy! The discovery of America is a complex and multifaceted historical event, marked by exploration, conquest, and cultural exchange. While Christopher Columbus is often credited with this milestone, earlier explorers like Norse adventurer Leif Erikson likely reached North America centuries before. The aftermath of this dis- covery led to global trade, cultural interactions, and the blending of civilizations, but it also brought profound challenges for indigenous populations, including dis- placement and colonization. Irish monks, on the other hand, made a significant impact during Europe’s so-call- ed “Dark Ages.” These dedicated scholars preserved essential knowledge by copy- ing classical manuscripts and fostering education in their monasteries. Their efforts not only safeguarded ancient wisdom but also laid the groundwork for the Renais- sance. Additionally, their missionary activities spread Christianity and learning throughout Europe, leaving a lasting legacy of cultural and intellectual growth. A worldwide love story evokes the universal themes of connection, resilience, and shared humanity. Whether through historical events, literature, or modern tales, these stories emphasize the power of love to transcend borders, cultures, and challenges. Such narratives remind us of the deep emotional connections that bind people across the globe. The Apple Watch lecture, taught by John Guerra, offers a practical and modern angle to learning. As a versatile tool, the Apple Watch can enhance daily life with its features for fitness tracking, com- munication, organization, and more. This lecture is an excellent opportunity to unlock its full potential and integrate it seamlessly into your routine. Finally, for those traveling during Easter, the ability to attend lectures virtually high- lights the incredible convenience and connectivity that modern technology provides. It ensures that learning and engagement continue, regardless of location, making it possible to balance holiday traditions with personal growth and exploration. If you’d like to delve into any of these topics further, let me know—there’s so much more to uncover! 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. Feature Lectures Who Really Discovered America? April 14 | 10 – 11:30am | Monday Bonita Bay Community Center By traveling extensively throughout the Americas, Western Europe and the Middle East, you start wondering how we all got here. Perhaps you have heard stories about the Vikings living on our shores or was it Columbus who started the colonization of the Americas? This lecture tries to untangle the truth about the discovery of America and the colonization of this continent. Wandering Scribes and Scholars: Legacy of the Early Irish Monks April 16 | 1 – 2:30pm | Wednesday Naples Center / Online via Zoom From ancient times, the Atlantic has been Ireland’s link with the wider world. The arrival of Egyptian monks by sea in the early Christian era had a dramatic impact. The influence of Egyptian monasticism sparked an intense interest among the early Irish for nature, self- sacrifice and exile. The austerity of the desert appealed to their fearsome nature. Like the Egyptians they took to ‘Wandering’ over land and sea, embracing isolation and deprava- tion for communion with nature and its creator. The Irish then carried this form of spiritu- ality into Europe. By saving civilization in a devastated Europe after the fall of Rome, the Irish had an immense impact on the world that later emerged, leaving a lasting legacy far beyond their native shore. This is a story of courage bordering on the insane, of boundless passion for scholarship and learning and of reverence for nature, the earth and all creation. Love and Treachery – Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson April 16 | 2 – 3:30pm | Wednesday Pelican Bay Community Center April 17 | 4:30 – 6pm | Thursday Wyndemere Country Club King Edward VIII relinquished the English throne and left his country to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. Forbidden to enter England, they spent their lives in exile. Surely this is a love story for the ages! But was it? Did Wallis even like Edward? Was Edward a loyal Englishman? Close examination and new evidence reveal a differ- ent picture. Technology Lectures Apple Watch Tips, Tricks and Secrets of the New Watch OS 11 April 15 | 10 – 11:30am | Thursday Online via Zoom Join this lecture-style presentation as we explore the many features of the Apple Watch. It’s not just about telling time, it’s about phone calls, email messages, maps, music, photos, health tracking, Apple Pay, fall detection and so much more. Weekly Guide – April 14 – April 21 Click on any class below to see more information and to register Monday April 14 – World’s Greatest Army: The War Machine of Rome – Immigration 1776-2025: How Did We Get into This Mess – From Tallis to Taylor: A Tour of Modern Music Tuesday April 15 – World War II America: 1940-1945 – Ancient Egypt – Land of Pyramids, Temples and Mummies – Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: Is There Life Out There? Thursday April 17 – The Hound of the Baskervilles, And All That is Sherlock Holmes – Spain, Portugal & Morocco – Jewels of the Western Mediterranean – iPhone/iPad Apps: Master Texting with Messages Monday April 21 – The Perception of Time: Understanding Chronos – Comanches: Lords of the Plains – Catherine the Great of Russia 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 FGCU Academy FGCU ACADEMY NAPLES CENTER 704 Goodlette-Frank Rd N Suite 330 Naples, FL 34102 239.434.4737 [email protected] |
