HIGHLIGHTS
May 2014
• Spotlight: James Tricker:Visitor
at the Aldo Leopold Wilderness
Research Institute
The US Forest Service International Visitor Program (IVP) facilitates participation
in a wide variety of professional and educational exchanges, which encourage scientific collaboration and discovery, increase intercultural understanding, and promote
cooperation among people of many cultures and countries.
SPOTLIGHT:
• Sidebar: Educational and Cultural
Excursions
JAMES TRICKER:VISITOR AT THE ALDO LEOPOLD
WILDERNESS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
• J-1 Rules and Regulations:
Employment Authorization
Document for J-2 Visitors
What factors made you decide to
come to the US and conduct research with the Forest Service?
I was born and raised in South Africa
and moved to the UK in 2004 after
graduating from Rhodes University
with a BA in History and Geography.
After a year of living in England, I found
myself craving space and opportunities
for solitude (something I had perhaps
taken for granted in the SA). A move
to the west coast of Scotland, working
as a GIS officer for the National Trust
for Scotland, solved this problem and
allowed me to develop an interest in
land management and conservation
practices. In 2008, I undertook a MSC in GIS at the University of Leeds, where
I became exposed to the idea of protecting landscapes for their wilderness
qualities. For my dissertation, I developed a model to identify areas suitable
for wilderness designation along the Scottish coastline. I was fortunate to have
the opportunity to present this work at the World Wilderness Conference
in Mexico at the end of 2009, where I met some of the folks from the Aldo
Leopold Wilderness Research Institute (ALWRI). One of the ALWRI researchers was interested in adapting my model for a wilderness character mapping
project in the US – we kept in touch, developed the idea, found some funding
and within a year I made the move out to Montana. The opportunity to work
with renowned researchers in a field that I’m passionate about, combined with
the attraction of exploring a new country, made it an easy decision!
• What’s New:
USFS Outreach to Local Schools
• Spring is in Bloom: Arbor Day,
National Cherry Blossom Festival
and Earth Day
• Culture Corner: British and
American English
• On the Horizon
For more information on the
International Visitor Program,
please contact Brenda Dean:
(email) bdean@fs.fed.us
(tel) +1-202-644-4600
What has it meant to you personally and professionally to have this
experience?
Personally, it’s been an extremely fulfilling experience. The people, environment, culture, weather, etc. all contribute to a wonderful way of life – it’s been
fantastic to experience and appreciate everything the US has to offer. And to
work at the only federally funded wilderness research institute has been an
invaluable professional experience. I’ve been able to
learn first-hand about wilderness and its management
in the US from researchers with decades of experience.
EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL EXCURSIONS
Learn, Connect & Explore the U.S.A!
Join the International Visitor Program (IVP) team and fellow
international visitors on one of our upcoming educational
and cultural excursions to explore a new part of the United
States! In the coming months, please look out for email
announcements regarding these exciting adventures to
Montana, Washington DC, and Florida. The announcements
will include further information on participation, dates, cost
and the application process. Please feel free to contact any
of the IVP team members for any questions you may have
regarding these excursions. We also welcome your ideas for
destinations!
What has been the most gratifying part of the
experience so far?
Too many to list! However, if I was forced to say
something it would have to be living in Missoula,
Montana. It’s a vibrant, beautiful town with a strong
sense of community. It also happens to be, in my
opinion, the epicenter for all things wilderness in
the US. Along with the wide array of organizations,
research groups and university programs focused on
wilderness, it is also proximate to some of the best
designated wilderness in the National Wilderness
Preservation System.
What have you been researching and how will
this experience help you in the future?
I have been investigating methods to map impacts to
wilderness character. This has involved learning about
a wide array of wilderness issues, developing GIS
techniques to interpret and depict these issues in a
spatial context, and providing managers with toolsets
to help them better understand, monitor and improve
conditions in wilderness. This experience has allowed
me to develop the knowledge, skills and contacts for
pursuing a career in wilderness research.
mind is that any money earned by a J-2 cannot be used
to support the principal J-1 visa holder. Instead, their
earnings can only be used as supplementary income.
Once employment authorization is granted, a J-2 dependent can work until the date on the EAD card or until
the J-1 principal visitor completes his or her program,
whichever is earlier. J-2 dependents are allowed to
apply for work authorization renewal as long as the J-1
visitor remains in active status. It is recommended that
any applications for extensions of the EAD be made
at least 3 months in advance of the expiration date on
the card. Legal work authorization for J-2 dependents is
always dependent on the status of the J-1 principal.
J-1 RULES & REGULATIONS
Employment Authorization Document for J-2
Visitors. One of the privileges that a J-2 Visa holder
has is, in most cases, they can seek employment in the
United States. In order to work, a J-2 Visa holder must
apply for and secure an Employment Authorization
Document (EAD) from the Department of Homeland
Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A J-2 dependent is NOT permitted to work or to
receive a US Social Security Number until they have
received this EAD card. Processing times for receiving
the EAD card can range anywhere between 6 weeks
and 3 months. A very important factor to keep in
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How do you apply for an EAD card?
You will need to submit the following to USCIS either electronically or in the mail, based on your
eligibility category. Please visit http://www.uscis.gov/i-765 to determine your category.
1. A completed I-765 form, which can be found at the following website: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/
files/files/form/i-765.pdf
2. A bank check or money order for $380 made payable to “Department of Homeland Security” by:
• a certified bank check
• a money order (please note: a money order is
more difficult to track than a check)
• a personal check issued from a bank with branches in the U.S.
3. A photocopy of the J-1’s I-94 card and J-2 dependent’s I-94 card. If you arrived in the U.S. on or
after May 1, 2013, your I-94 card was issued electronically and must be printed from the U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) website at http://www.cbp.gov/I94.
4. A photocopy of the information page of the J-2’s passport showing photo and expiration date.
5. Photocopies of ALL DS-2019 forms issued to the J-1 exchange visitor and J-2 dependent.
6. Two recent photos of yourself. The USCIS requires that the photos meet the specifications for the full
frontal/passport type of photos and not be more than 30 days old when the applications is filed. For more
information on photo standards, visit the Department of State website.
7. A brief letter addressed to USCIS stating the request for work authorization. It is important that the letter clearly state that the income received from employment is not needed to financially support either the
J-1 visitor or the J-2 dependents. The letter should state that work authorization is being sought for other
purposes. Some examples would be the wish to gain work experience, for purposes of career advancement,
or for cultural enrichment.
8. If re-applying for authorization, include a photocopy of any previous EAD card.
WHAT’S NEW:
USFS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHES
OUT TO LOCAL SCHOOLS
For the past two years, US Forest Service Office of International Programs (IP) staff have adopted local schools to bring
our Monarch Joint Venture and urban conservation education
programs to Washington, DC. The school adoption program
has also provided broader opportunities to engage local students with STEM activities and mentorship. Our Africa Technical Cooperation team and International Visitor Program team
joined up to help two local Washington, DC schools continue
their science environmental activities indoors this past winter
while outdoors record snowfalls blanketed the city.
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Annie Nagy and Misty Sidhu build bat boxes with Mundo Verde
Elementary School students . Photo Credit: Kristin Corcoran
Batty for Bat Boxes
dependent variables, use of visual aids and charts, and
It was a good day to be a bat when IP staff visited
project design. The projects covered an impressive arboth Mundo Verde Public Charter School, DC’s
ray of topics, from the effectiveness of new protective
first “green” charter school, and Maury Elementary
football helmets to the impact of texting or talking on
School in February. Annie Nagy, Misty Sidhu, Kristin
a cell phone on a driver’s reaction times. The winning
Corcoran and Ashlee Jackson visited two first grade
project, which tackled the question “What is more
classrooms and two second grade classrooms to
effective in eliminating bacteria: Hand sanitizer or
teach them all about our nocturnal flying friends and
hand washing with soap?” will get to move on to the
how they are important for pollination and insect
city-wide science fair later this year.
control in an urban environment like Washington, DC.
Through various activities, the first graders were able
to show off their “bat IQ” and
APRIL ARBOR AMOR
share their knowledge about
Trees have long stood as symfood, habitat, reproduction, and
bols of life, longevity, strength,
benefits to the environment.
and stability. Across many
This was all just a warmup for
branches of folklore, mythology,
the real get-your-hands-dirty
and religion around the world,
activity: painting their very own
trees are metaphors for crebat boxes! Each class got to
ation, heritage, knowledge and
paint two bat boxes that will
wisdom. For millennia, many
be hung on the exterior of
cultures have honored a “tree
the schools to provide shelter
of life” through art and worto bats that make DC home.
ship. It is no wonder, as trees
The students learned that by
produce oxygen, cleanse water,
painting the bat boxes black,
provide shelter, and produce a
USFS Smokey Bear at the 2011 Arbor Day tree planting
in
St.
Augustine,
FL.
(http://www.staugustinegovthey will absorb heat from the
bounty of resources to sustain
ernment.com/residents/urban-forest.cfm)
sun in the day that will keep
life on Earth.
the bats warmer even at night.
Later in the spring, the schools
Here in the United States, the
will welcome a guest from Bat
month of April brings many
Conservation International to help continue their
opportunities to raise consciousness about the
education about these important critters and to assist
environment and to celebrate bonds created through
with installing boxes outside.
the appreciation of trees. Here are just a few of the
more notable celebrations:
Science Fair Extravaganza
In March, Annie, Misty and Kristin were joined by
Arbor Day
Shira Yoffe from IP’s Policy team to serve as judges
(Celebrated the last Friday in April by 25 States)
at Washington Latin Public Charter School’s annual science fair. The science fair featured teams of
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups
students from grades 9-12 who have been working
are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It was
since last fall on their projects. Each judge met with
initiated by J. Sterling Morton, a former governor of
eight student teams. The students gave short prethe Nebraska Territory, who sought to plant trees
sentations about their projects and displayed project
across the landscape of the American Great Plains to
boards while the judges asked questions and scored
conserve soil moisture and provide windbreaks. On
them based on their identification of independent and
April 10, 1872, an estimated one million trees were
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planted in Nebraska. Another strong proponent of
conservation from Connecticut, Birdsey Northrop,
internationalized the holiday. In 1883, he encouraged
the Japanese Minister of Education to adopt a similar
ceremonial Arbor Day event involving school children. Northrop later became the American Forestry
Association’s chairman of a committee to campaign
for Arbor Day across the United States, and was also
responsible for promoting Arbor Day in Australia,
Canada and Europe.
Kwanzan Cherry Tree - Photo Credit: Brenda Dean
A few decades later, a conservation movement grew
from heightened concerns about the destruction of
American forests by the lumber industry. The first
Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, was
inspired by a Pennsylvania conservationist, Major
Israel McCreight, who believed that President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation outreach was limited
to the lumber industry. McCreight and Pinchot urged
Roosevelt to expand his messages and policy on
conservation and conservation education. On April
15, 1907, President Roosevelt issued an “Arbor Day
Proclamation to the School Children of the United
States” about the importance of trees and forestry
education.
trees given to the city of Washington, DC by the
Mayor of Tokyo, Japan in 1912. The flowering trees
were planted around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac
Park and present a beautiful show each spring as their
white and pink blossoms appear like clouds of cotton candy across the nation’s capital city. More than
1.5 million people come to see the blossoms and
enjoy the official festival events each year. The festival
events include a parade, cultural performances and
art exhibits.
For more information about the trees and festival,
visit: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about/
history/
Many countries observe Arbor Day or a similar
holiday by planting trees. Though usually observed in
the spring, the date varies by country, depending on
climate and suitable planting season.
Earth Day (April 22)
On April 22, more than a billion people in over 190
countries celebrate Earth Day, a day of environmental
awareness and action. The first Earth Day, held on
April 22, 1970, was inspired by reactions to a massive
oil spill in California in 1969. The catastrophe helped
gather momentum for several environmental movements to join together. Over 20 million Americans
joined public demonstrations to campaign for the
environment and raise public consciousness about
pollution, loss of wilderness and wildlife extinctions.
This significant movement eventually led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection
Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water
and Endangered Species Acts. Earth Day is now celebrated in over 190 countries. The holiday promotes
awareness of environmental issues and advocacy
To learn more about Arbor Day and when it is celebrated
in your state or country, visit the Arbor Day Foundation
website: http://www.arborday.org/arborday/arborDayDates.cfm
“Each generation takes the Earth as trustees.”
- J. Sterling Morton
National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington,
DC (March 20 - April 13, 2014)
The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival honors
the lasting friendship between Japan and the United
States. It commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry
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Deforestation and Tree Planting
Today, deforestation remains a serious concern
on a global scale. Forested lands and grasslands
are rapidly disappearing around the world for a
variety of causes, including agricultural clearing,
catastrophic fires, poor land management and
destructive logging practices. This phenomenon is
occurring despite the vital importance of forests
for storing carbon, conserving biodiversity, and
providing clean water, food, medicine, fuel and
income to more than two billion people, including an estimated 350 million indigenous and tribal
peoples. Deforestation and land degradation
contribute directly to increased greenhouse gas
emissions and climate change, one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. To learn
more about the US Forest Service engagement
on international policy and practices, go to: http://
www.fs.fed.us/global/topic/climate_change/welcome.htm.
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell participates in 2011 Earth Day
festivities at Barnard Elementary School that included building raised bed
gardens, planting vegetables and showcasing the school’s outdoor classroom
in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit: USFS Office of Communication,
http://blogs.usda.gov/2011/04/22/us-forest-service-chief-celebrates-earthday-with-d-c-elementary-students/
for policies and practices to protect the planet and
secure a sustainable future. Individuals, organizations,
government agencies, schools and companies participate in small- and large-scale awareness raising events.
These community events oftentimes include ecofriendly exhibits, educational activities, speakers and
discussion panels, green or sustainable design expositions, art displays, craft activities for children, musical entertainment, games, contests, litter or stream
cleanups, garden and tree planting, and a host among
other activities.
Tree planting ceremonies - a symbolic gesture
and productive ritual of planting trees to honor
nature and relationships- unite us in investing in
the future by replenishing, renewing and conserving natural resources that are truly life sources.
Check your local newspapers and municipal, county
or state websites for information on Earth Day celebrations in your community. For more information
on the Earth Day Network, go to
http://www.earthday.org
Tree Planting in Kfardebian, Lebanon. The USFS, with support from
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),
supports Lebanese organizations in the forestry sector through the
Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI). Photo Credit: Joyce Bejjani
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CULTURE CORNER
It’s time to test your knowledge of British English and American English! While they are the same language, the
English spoken and vocabulary used in the United Kingdom varies greatly from that spoken in the United States.
In fact, there are many examples in which American and British English use two entirely different words to describe the same thing. The puzzle below will test your knowledge of these vocabulary words.
Directions: Use the clues to fill in the puzzle. The clues are British English vocabulary words and you must answer
with the corresponding American English vocabulary word.
ACROSS
5. Wardrobe
6. Autumn
9. Jumper
11. Holiday
12. Loo
13. Motorway
16. Torch
18. Boot
19. Term
DOWN
1. Chips
2. Football
3. Petrol
4. Lift
7. Nappy
8. Windscreen
10. Flat
14. Biscuits
15. Queue
17. Pavement
20. Underground
Resources: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/words/british-and-american-terms and https://crosswordlabs.
com/
(Answers to the puzzle can be found on the next page.)
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Please Share Your Stories!
We would like to invite everyone to
share photos and stories about yourselves, your programs, and the exchange
experiences you’ve had in the United
States and abroad. Please submit your
stories, pictures, ideas, and feedback to
Misty Sidhu at mksidhu@fs.fed.us
Contact Info
Brenda Dean: bdean@fs.fed.us
Misty Sidhu: mksidhu@fs.fed.us
Kristin Corcoran: kacorcoran@fs.fed.us
Rima Eid: rimaeid@fs.fed.us
Ashlee Jackson: ashleejackson@fs.fed.us
Tel: +1-202-644-4600
ON THE HORIZON
US Holidays and Special Occasions
Tuesday, April 22
Friday, April 25
Sunday, May 11 Monday, May 26
Saturday, June 14
Sunday, June 15 Friday, June 20
Earth Day
Arbor Day
Mother’s Day
Memorial Day (Federal Government closed)
Flag Day
Father’s Day First day of summer
If you are a visitor to the US, ask your American hosts, friends and colleagues how they celebrate these holidays.
Hosts, we encourage you to use this opportunity to share an aspect of
American culture with your visitor(s)!
The US Forest Service International Visitor Program is now on Facebook!
Please visit: https://www.facebook.com/
pages/US-Forest-Service-International-Visitor-Program/380788515370097
Answers to the Culture Corner Crossword Puzzle
Disclaimer
This newsletter has been produced by the
US Forest Service Office of International
Programs International Visitor Program Staff.
Information in this publication is provided
for the benefit of current or prospective
Program participants or USDA program
hosts engaged in exchanges through the US
Forest Service International Visitor Program.
Any information provided in this newsletter on immigration regulations or financial
issues is subject to change at any time and
without notice. For official legal advice on
immigration or tax matters, please consult a
certified attorney or tax professional.