Questions and Answers

~ Who is El Valor?
El Valor is a community-based organization founded in 1973. El Valor’s mission is to support and challenge urban families to achieve excellence and participate fully in community life. Our programs exist to enrich and empower people with disabilities, the disenfranchised and the underserved. El Valor seeks to be an international model for inclusion of people with disabilities, to be the best in the nation in early childhood and youth enrichment and to become the premier organization developing Hispanic leadership.
~ What is SCEP?
The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) is the primary source for external recruitment for entry-level hires in the Forest Service. SCEP provides work experience that is directly related to the student’s academic program or career goals. SCEP students may be non-competitively converted to career, term, or career-conditional appointments, SCEP gives students exposure to public service while enhancing their educational goals. In order to be a part of SCEP, the student must have a professor serve as a sponsor during the duration of your internship. The professor will serve as a liaison between your SCEP placement and your university.
~ What is the relationship between El Valor, International Programs U.S. Forest Service, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prarie U.S. Forest?
El Valor has partnered with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (a unit of the U.S. Forest Service) to bring high-quality environmental educational programming in the form of after-school and summer programs to inner-city Latino youth.
El Valor has also partnered with U.S.D.A. Forest Service, International Programs to study the migration patterns of the monarch butterfly. Additionally International Programs and El Valor are interested in the study of the cross cultural connections between Michoacán, Mexico and Chicago, IL.
~ What is the cost of this program?
The program is of NO cost to the participants. International Programs (U.S. Forest Service) will cover the cost of air travel, in-country transportation, meals, and lodging. Participants are encouraged to bring money for any souvenirs or additional items you may want to purchase.
~ How long is the trip? When is the trip?
The trip is scheduled for January, 2008 for a total of 7 days. Specific dates will be given to those who are selected.
~ What do I need to bring to the trip?
A list of necessary items will be provided to those selected to be a part of the program. However, do note that it is always wise to bring only that which you can carry by yourself. There will be some in country travel by bus, be conservative with your luggage.
~ What if I am not a U.S. citizen, but I am very interested in the internship opportunity?
Unfortunately all participants must be U.S. citizens or on a direct route to citizenship. Students who wish to participate in the SCEP (Student Career Experience Program) cannot be appointed to career-conditional employment in the competitive service unless they are citizens at the time of conversion.
~ Is there an interview process?
Yes. All qualified candidates will be invited to interview with El Valor’s University Programs Staff and U.S. Forest Service Staff.
~ When will I be notified of my acceptance into the program?
Final decisions will be made in December, 2007.
~ Is there a separate application process for SCEP?
Yes. All those who are interested in the SCEP internships will need to fill out the appropriate paper work. El Valor will help facilitate the process.
~ Do I have to get any vaccinations or submit a physical exam as part of my application process?
The U.S. State Department does not recommend vaccinations prior to travel to Mexico. For specific information on travel requirements to Mexico please visit http://travel.state.gov
~ What is my involvement with the program after the Mexico trip?
Upon, your return from Mexico you will be given the opportunity to join the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). Participation in SCEP is conditional on your desire to be a part of the program and subject to approval by the U.S. Forest Service. In August, 2008 a contingent from Mexico will be traveling to Chicago to visit the Monarch gardens and learn about conservation efforts in Chicago. All participants must make themselves available for the 7 days that the Mexican contingency will be in Chicago. If the participants have joined the SCEP internship; their individual Forest Units have agreed to give you that time off.