| 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! So much going on at FGCU Academy! With such a fantastic lineup, it’s hard to choose just one thing, but don’t worry—we have plenty of exciting options for you. How about a Double Header with Tom Eastwood next week? Dive into history with two intriguing lectures: – Recovering Nazi Plunder – World War II Monuments Men – VENONA – Soviet Spies in America These sessions promise to be both fascinating and enlightening. Interested in a series class? We have several to choose from, offering in- depth exploration of various topics over multiple sessions. From yoga to religion and writing, there’s a series class to fit your interests. 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. FEATURED LECTURES  Get More From Your Digital Camera March 3 | 9:30 – 12:30pm | Monday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Everyone owns a camera, and if you are like most people, you can turn it and press the shutter, and that’s about it. Perplexed by all those strange symbols? Afraid to touch a button, or worse yet, touch one by accident and can’t figure out how to undo what you’ve just done? Don’t be embarrassed! Gain control of your compact camera in this easy-to-under-stand class. You’ll learn what all those buttons do, when to use them, how to use them, and why to use them to accomplish this goal  Early Islamic Art & Architecture March 3 | 10 – 11:30am | Monday Naples Center / Online via Zoom Many westerners are unfamiliar with both the history of Islam and the earliest expression of Islamic culture in architecture and art. Join us for an introduction of the development of the mosque in its different regional variants, the first of which was presumably derived from the plan of the Prophet’s house in Medina. The remains of magnificent palaces we examine proclaim the refined and eleg- ant lifestyles of Islamic rulers at a time when Europe was barely emerging from the Dark Ages. Finally, we look at a variety of sumptuous manuscripts, ivory objects, glassware, tiles and carpets, all decorated with exquisite Arabic calligra- phy, intricate geometric and vegetal motifs and figural imagery. These were pro- duced by Islamic artisans and greatly prized by Europeans.  The Windsors, A Century of Royal Legacy March 4 | 10 – 11:30am | Tuesday Naples Center / Online via Zoom The lecture offers an in-depth exploration of the British royal family’s history over the last 100 years. It examines key moments in the monarchy’s evolution such as their role in World War II, the changing role of the monarchy in mod- ern Britain, and the personal and public challenges faced by royal figures like Diana, Charles and their children. Additionally, it delves into how the Wind- sors have navigated public scrutiny, media attention, and the ever-changing landscape of British society, while adapting to stay relevant. Through this analysis, the lecture provides a broader understanding of the Windsors’ last- ing influence on British identity, global interaction, and the evolution of monarchy itself.  How the Modern Bible Came to Be March 4 | 1:30 – 3pm | Tuesday Naples Center / Online via Zoom In 2007, Time magazine asserted that the Bible “has done more to shape literature, his- tory, entertainment and culture than any book ever written.” It’s a bold claim, but one that’s hard to refute. But if the Bible’s standing as a cultural behemoth is beyond doubt, its history is anything but. For centuries, some of the world’s greatest thinkers have puz- zled over the origins and evolution of this remarkable document. Who wrote it? When? Why? These are the thorniest of questions, made even more tangled by the Bible’s great age. Join us as we explore the origins of the bible as we know it today. TOM EASTWOOD DOUBLE HEADER  Recovering Nazi Plunder – World War II Monuments Men March 3 | 10:30- 12pm | Monday Naples Center / Online via Zoom The U.S./U.K. established an unprecedented unit to protect art and cultural sites during World War II. Additionally, they recovered art and treasure looted by the Nazis on a massive scale. This is a fascinating true story of their exploits.  VENONA – Soviet Spies in America March 3 | 1:30- 3pm | Monday Naples Center / Online via Zoom During World War II and the Cold War, Soviet spies and operatives infiltrated the White House, Treasury, State, DOJ, WAR and DOD. They also penetrated our most guarded program, the Manhattan Project. Fortunately, the U.S. Army had a top-sec- ret counterintelligence project to decode Soviet Intelligence messages. Most of the cryptanalysts were women at Arlington Hall, VA. VENONA was instrumental in identifying American spies. Many were committed communists who were highly placed. We explore this program and its far-reaching impact. FEATURED SERIES LECTURES  Yoga Nidra Meditation: Become Relaxed and Serene (3-part monthly series) March 4, 11, 18 | 9 – 10am | Tuesdays Online via Zoom 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 in- to an ancient sleep-based meditation that is very relaxing. People feel refreshed and their energy is recharged afterwards. Each session is equivalent to 3 hours of deep sleep. Participants can sit in a chair, lie down on a sofa or yoga mat with a blanket.  The History of Orthodoxy and Heresy in Early Christianity (3-part series) March 4, 11, 18 | 10 – 12pm | Tuesdays Naples Center / Online via Zoom Neither Second Temple Judaism nor Early Christianity had a centralized author- ity to determine what was orthodox; what was a necessary belief to “qualify” for “membership.” That changed over the first few centuries. What are the possible sources of Orthodoxy? How is it determined and what are the consequences for those who disagree?  ESSAY WRITING March 4, 11, 18, 25 | 2 – 4pm | Tuesdays Naples Center / Online via Zoom Essay Writing (creative nonfiction) will focus on exploring topics that stir the writer and reader. Writers will not only explore topics, but also practice techniques of writ- ing – to explain, explore and enjoy a subject. Our essays will crack open the truth, expose realities, and explore experiences that evoke a response. We will share volun- tary in-class workshopping and, the instructor will give feedback online to individu- als. We will “mine our life experiences” to find nuggets of truth and develop our writ- ing to include elements of the time, the place, and the significance of our experience. Our audience will be ourselves, then family and friends, and perhaps others, through possible publication. No prior experience necessary, just the desire to write about something of interest and a willingness to do some work to accomplish this goal Weekly Guide – February 26 – March 4 Click on any class below to see more information and to register Wednesday February 26 – Digital Currencies: The Future of Money – Should I Stay or Should I Move? Understanding the Senior Housing Options in SWFL – Chinese Intelligence and Spy Craft – The Failure of Israeli Intelligence in the Hamas Terrorist Attacks – What Went Wrong? – Changing Dynamics in the Middle EastThe Manhattan Project Thursday February 27 – YouTube: A Treasure Trove of Information – Beautiful, Flowering Orchids: How to Make Yours Thrive and Grow! – iPhone and iPad Fundamentals – Prado Museum: Masterpieces of “The Spanish Golden Age” Friday February 28 – Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and Hitler’s Concept of a “Master Race” – History of American Musical Theatre: Late 19th – 21st Century Monday March 3 – The Great Tenors – A Different Look at Florida – Artificial Intelligence (AI): Friend or Foe? – Judaism, The Bible and Math – Nuclear Power – The Essential Component in a Strategy to Mitigate Climate Change – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Major Motion Picture Industry – Art of the 19th Century French Salon and the Impressionist Movement Tuesday March 4 – ChatGPT: A Personal Guide to AI – Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: Is There Life Out There? Day Trips and Special Events 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     FGCU Academy FGCU ACADEMY NAPLES CENTER 704 Goodlette-Frank Rd N Suite 330 Naples, FL 34102 239.434.4737 [email protected] |
