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Have it your way, online or in-person.

Support FGCU Academy | Make a Memorable Gift Now

The Academy’s program fees only cover a fraction of its operating costs. The Academy relies on the purchase of memberships and donations to carry us the rest of the way. Without your support, this vital community lifelong learning and outreach program would not be possible. Thank you for your generosity.

September 2022

FGCU Academy
International Space Exploration

Greetings, the year 2021 was historic for space exploration.
In just 365 days, we witnessed the genesis of trailblazing achievements such as the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, SpaceX’s Inspiration 4, which remarkably sent civilians into outer space, and the applause-filled sendoff of NASA’s planetary defense prototype, DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), to name just a few. But 2022 is shaping up to be even better. For starters, the space race is back.

A look at what has taken place this year:
• SpaceX kicked off 2022 with Starlink launch
• James Webb locked into place
• Perseverance rover’s anniversary of landing on Mars
• Axiom -1 launched first all-private crew to ISS
• SpaceX’s Crew-4 blasts off
• First of six missions to complete Tiangong space station
• Boeing Starliner docks on second flight attempt
• Rocket Lab launched NASA’s Capstone mission
• Russia launches Luna-25
• NASA launches Artemis I
• South Korea’s first moon mission

A look at what is still planned for this year:
• TESS extended mission complete
• NASA’s Dart crashes into asteroid
• Juno mission flyby of Europa
• SpaceX starship orbital launches
• Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket takes off
• India’s Space Program gets back in the game

FGCU Academy offers knowledgeable instructors of our nations space program, as well as all of our programs. Some of whom have direct first hand experiences with the space programs from the beginning and they share that with you in an exciting manner.

You won’t want to miss Ed Grace present his lecture on the Apollo program! (see below)

If you would like to have FGCU Academy provide programs at your community, click below and send us an email with your information: who the contact person is, their email and phone number along with name of your community. We will be happy to reach out and discuss the possibilities with them.

Schedule a Private Education Session
for Your Community!

Please call office to register for classes at 239.434.4737
or
Register Online

Program Guides

View 2022 FGCU Academy Summer Program Guide

View September Daily Calendar

SINGLE LECTURE CLASSES

Apollo Program
@ Aston Gardens – September 6 | 2 – 3:30 p.m.
@ The Arlington – September 13 | 2:30 – 4 p.m.

In this lecture we will review two missions as well as the Apollo highlight missions – Apollo 11 – First Landing on The Moon and Apollo 13 – Houston We Have A Problem Mission. Apollo 17 was launched in December 1972 and Astronaut Gene Cernan became the last man to walk on the moon. Our lecturer worked on the Apollo Program from 1962 – 1972 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work saving the astronauts of the Apollo 13 crew. Ed Grace will share with us an inside view of the Apollo program.

Mary Queen of Scots
@ Moorings Park – September 7 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
@ Cypress Cove – September 15 | 1:30 – 3 p.m.

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?

The Great Silk Road: A Caravan of Cultures
@ Moorings Park Grande Lake – September 9 | 1:30 – 3 p.m.

There is probably no more challenging a subject for photographers than wildlife. Whether it is a polar bear or pelican, orchid or orca, the quest for the perfect shot is endless. The quarry is invariably erratic, endangered and elusive. However, the pursuit of this precious image is what makes it such fun and rewarding. Learn the tricks and tips to make photos that you’ll be proud to show! This lecture is specially geared towards capturing the flora and fauna of Southwest Florida. Also, see this section for our Nature Photography Field Trip!

Understanding Your Mirrorless and Digital SLR
@ Naples Center – September 21, 22, 23 | 9 – 12 p.m. New Dates

For those wanting to explore their creative side with digital photography, nothing compares to the choices available with a mirrorless single lens reflex (SLR) camera. But learning the myriad of alternatives can be daunting. This course is designed to make sense of these options: how, when and why to use them. Topics will include understanding exposure, white balance, file formats, better flash photography, focus and shooting options.
New Dates

SERIES CLASSES

NEW Sessions for September

Join us for an interactive hands on class

Writers Collaborative Workshop (4-part series)
@ Naples Center or Online via Zoom – September 6,13, 20, 27 | 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Audience is one of the most important aspects of writing. Share the content of yours with like-minded, aspiring authors in a constructive, acceptance-oriented, creative and vibrant writing group in search of effective writing methodologies. This program welcomes whatever you are writing or want to write – memoir, stories, novel, or poems – for input, guidance and discussion.

Chair Yoga & Mindful Movement
@ Online via Zoom – September 8,15, 22, 29 | 9 – 10 a.m.

Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga available to everyone, practiced seated using a chair for support. Practice breathing exercises and 8 movements of the spine while seated. Standing poses include balance, gentle stretching and mindful movement encouraging the flow of healthy “chi”. Class ends with relaxation to quiet the mind. Yoga benefits include increased balance, strength & flexibility, healthier breathing habits, reduction of stress, better sleep and overall sense of wellbeing. Suggested props: Folding chair & water. discussion.

Current Events: An Enlightened Discussion Group (2-part sessions)
@ Online via Zoom – September 8, 29 | 10 – 11 a.m.

Join this interactive, thought provoking and engaging discussion group at the forefront of the issues and topics confronting us all. In a globalized world, hot topics rise and fall daily. Ripped from the headlines, join us for a discourse of the issues and stories shaping national sentiment. The best discussions arise from a group of diverse individuals offering their personal viewpoints and perspectives informed by their unique life experiences. Together with your opinions and ideas, bring your listening and critical thinking skills to help enrich us all. If you watch the news and really wish you had someone to talk to about it, this is your group! Each week students receive articles for discussion and, where appropriate, videos are shown to help shape the discussions.

Balance University: Improve Balance, Posture and Flexibility (3-part series)
@ Naples Center / Online via Zoom – September 16, 23, 30 | 9 – 10 a.m.

Balance University is an interactive wellness class, designed to improve balance, posture and flexibility. This program starts with basic balance exercises and progresses to more complex movements over time. Your instructor explains the “whys” and the importance of balance exercises as part of your everyday routine. Join our instructor in a safe and effective low-impact workout every Friday morning.

TECHNOLOGY CLASSES
Instructor: John Guerra

Apple iPhone/iPad Settings: iCloud, Notifications, Focus and More
@ Moorings Park Grande Lake – September 29 | 1 – 2 p.m.

Computer and Internet Security for Desktops, Laptops, Phones and Tablets – How to Stay Safe & Protect
@ Naples Center or Online via Zoom – September 30 | 10 -11:30 a.m.

LOOKING AHEAD – see what’s coming

• Jonathan Pollard – Avarice or Ideology?
• Roosevelt vs. Rockefeller: Are Corporations Too Big and Powerful?
• The Great Private Sector Space Race
• King Ludwig II of Bavaria – The Fairytale King
• Get Ready to Vote in the November Elections

View a Class at Your Time!

You can now view PRE-RECORDED Classes from the comfort of your own home any time of day or night.
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2023 Travel

Travel The World With FGCU Academy
Travel is not reward for working, it’s education for living

Brochures now available for most tours – see below

INSIDER’S JAPAN – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure
May 20 – June 1, 2023 | 13 days
It’s a land of delicate art and bustling commerce, of rich traditions and dizzying modernity; a jumble of sights, sounds, and tastes that for visitors are truly foreign – and truly fascinating. This well-crafted tour features the highlights of Tokyo and Kyoto, engages us in local life, and takes us off the beaten path to the lovely historic cities of Takayama and Kanazawa.

UNTAMED ALASKA – coming soon
August 20 – 30, 2023 | 11 days
Awe-inspiring natural beauty and outdoor adventure await as we explore Alaska’s varied landscapes and noteworthy cities. From Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords national parks to the energy of Anchorage and scenic Seward, our small group encounters the breadth and beauty of America’s Last Frontier.

LEGENDARY TURKEY – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure
September 1 – 15, 2023 | 15 days
Exotic sights, scents, and sounds reign in this fascinating land where Europe and Asia meet. From Istanbul, magnificent “Empress of the World,” to ancient ruins, stunning landscapes, and the dramatic – and legendary – Turquoise Coast, Turkey engages and beguiles, offering us an unparalleled small group experience.

ACROSS SPAIN & PORTUGAL – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure
September 10 – 26, 2023 | 17 days
Fortified cities and tiny fishing villages, rugged Atlantic coastline and commanding Pyrenees peaks, iconic shrines to both religion and fine art, and intimate lodgings in historic paradores and pousadas – it all awaits on this singular small group journey from Lisbon across the north of Spain, ending in vibrant Barcelona.

PEARLS OF DALMATIA – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure
September 14 – 28, 2023 | 15 days
Independent, democratic Croatia welcomes visitors eager to absorb its remarkable history and culture – and its beautiful and unspoiled Dalmatian coastline. As our small group travels from historic Zagreb and beautiful Lake Bled to the Habsburg resort of Opatija, the island of Hvar, and beloved Dubrovnik, we see why this cherished region lays such a claim on the hearts of all who visit.

CLASSIC GERMANY – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure
September 21 – October 3, 2023 | 13 days
Classic Germany: it’s the Romantic Road and the Bavarian Alps, royal castles and half-timbered houses, charming villages and historic Nuremberg, culturally rich Munich and international Berlin. It’s history of note – and of notoriety. And we see it all on this alluring small group tour.

SICILY IN DEPTH – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure
September 28 – October 9, 2023 | 12 days
Crossroads of the Mediterranean … the “toe” in Italy’s boot … “God’s Kitchen” … Sicily is all this, and much more, as we see on our stellar small group journey around this Italian island. It’s lively cities and ancient ruins, temples of man – and of nature, hospitable people and delectable cuisine … a feast for all the senses.

ISRAEL: TIMELESS WONDERS – coming soon
October 14 – 25, 2023 | 12 days
Encounter a land of extraordinary beauty and belief, of spirit and story, history and hospitality. From modern Tel Aviv to scen¬ic Upper Galilee, ancient Tiberias and storied Nazareth to Jerusalem, “City of Gold,” we engage all our senses in a small group encounter with this extraordinary and holy land, with a five-night stay in Jerusalem at the legendary King David hotel.

Support FGCU Academy | Make a Memorable Gift Now

The Academy’s program fees only cover a fraction of its operating costs. The Academy relies on the purchase of memberships and donations to carry us the rest of the way. Without your support, this vital community lifelong learning and outreach program would not be possible. Thank you for your generosity.

FGCU Academy
Collier / Lee / Charlotte

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

239-434-4737

[email protected]

FGCU Academy | 704 Goodlette-Frank Road N., Suite 330, Naples, FL 34102