Situated on 125 acres of restored wetlands in Western Broward County, the 157,000 square foot Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC) offers a serene environment. Opened in 1996, the complex provides recreational, housing, classrooms, conference, gift shop, and dining facilities. The primary buildings of the 15-acre retreat are located around a quadrangle, comparable to a college campus. Containing 100 private rooms complete with private bathing facilities, the design affords for a large number of visitors to live on the campus while visiting the center during retreats.

The multi-purpose building complex is complete with a 25-meter, 8 lap pool, basketball courts, a gymnasium with locker rooms, and associated fitness trails. The location of the center along the banks of a 20-acre lake, take advantage of waterfront vistas and prevailing breezes. A system of pedestrian pathways leads visitors along the waterfront to an open air amphitheater and open recreational area. Multiple auditoriums and a welcome center round out the amenities.

The FNCC was built as a facility for SGI-USA members to refresh their spirit and determination to practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Here amid the Live Oak trees and Sabal Palms native to the Florida landscape, discussions on philosophy and everyday life experience take place in a relaxing atmosphere. As SGI President Daisaku Ikeda commented: "There should be time for sleeping and time for chanting. People should leave energized and filled with hope."

Conferences are filled on a first come first served basis with the exception of all divisional conferences. Divisional leaders will make the details for those conferences available as soon as possible.

Applications, money and flight information all go to the Chicago Culture Center (see address etc. below).

Please fill in all the information asked for on the application and print neatly so we will be aware of any special needs/requests you may have, and we will be able to contact you to get and give information.

Submitting an application does not guarantee you a place at the conference. If you submit an application, follow up by contacting Cindy Carlson at the Chicago Culture Center to ask if there are openings for the conference you wish to attend.

Every FNCC conference has a fee of $435.00, which must be paid no later than two months before the conference.

Payment may be made by cash (do not mail cash), check or money order (made to SGI-USA) or credit card. Credit cards will be processed as soon as they are received.

After submitting an application and the $435.00 conference fee, you will be contacted and told whether or not there is a place for you at the conference. If there is no opening for that conference, you will be notified and your money will be returned to you within one month.

Do not book flights until you have received confirmation that your application and money were received and you will be able to attend the conference. It is recommended that everyone use the Ft. Lauderdale airport rather than the Miami airport because it is closer to FNCC, smaller and much more convenient. We must receive your flight information (the airport you will be using, the airline, flight number and time for both your arrival and departure flights) no later than one month before the conference.

Click on these links to download the FNCC Application (Excel format) and the FNCC Credit Card Form (PDF format or Excel format).

Please send applications, payment and flight information to:

SGI-USA
Attn: C. Carlson FNCC
1455 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-913-1211
Fax: 312-913-0988
E-mail: ccarlson@sgi-usa.org

For more information on FNCC, please visit www.sgi-usa.org/thesgiusa/activities/fncc/.