Batten raftin’: Graduate students take on the New River Gorge
A group of more than 15 UVA Batten rising second-year graduate students and friends ventured to the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia this summer for a weekend of camping, rafting, and cementing their camaraderie. Said one: "I know the cohort has my back. I hope that the cohort knows I have theirs.”
On the weekend of the summer solstice, a group of more than 15 UVA Batten rising second-year graduate students and friends made the trek from Charlottesville up to Fayetteville, West Virginia for a cohort camping and river rafting trip.
The 2024-2025 academic year posed unforeseen challenges in academia and public policy, and many Batten students have struggled to redefine their purpose and passion in a changing political landscape. With the experiences of his MPP 2026 cohort in mind, Nathan Gregory began brainstorming a weekend getaway amid a hectic finals week last spring.
“I needed something to take my mind off of prepping for finals and I could tell that others needed something to look forward to on the other side, so I gauged interest among my cohort and set up a chat to coordinate the trip,” Gregory said.
He honed in on the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia as the destination. The area boasts its status as the home of the largest arc bridge in the western hemisphere, a variety of natural rock formations, and class V river rapids that attract visitors from all over the country each year.
Connor McAlevy, an Eagle Scout and nature enthusiast, jumped at the opportunity to travel to the New River Gorge with his cohort, where he had traveled over a decade ago. He brought his wife along on the trip for her first time white-water rafting.
“I have a deep appreciation for all things nature, the importance of community-building through experiential outings, and the camaraderie that can be built by getting out of your comfort zone,” McAlevy said.
Most of the group went rafting while some opted to hang back at camp. Regardless of why people joined, the experience has been remembered as a success. “The trip went without a hitch – except for some rumblings about an alleged bear in our campsite,” Gregory said. “Everyone got to know more about each other, and we got to practice some great communication skills as we prevented one another from falling out of the rafts.”
McAlevy said the best part of the trip was the ability to connect with friends after the brief summer hiatus from school, hearing about their various travels and work experiences. “I also got to hear firsthand how internship experiences were going, what skills were being applied from the classroom to a professional setting, and how much people were enjoying living in other cities.”
Gregory said the trip was a testament to his cohort’s resilience and adaptability. “I believe that the Batten community has gumption,” he said. “Over the last year we have endured numerous challenges as a community, yet we have doggedly pursued the future and moved beyond these challenges.”
McAlevy echoed the sentiment and emphasized how the cohort’s inclusive atmosphere helped make a trip like this happen.
“Inclusivity is a radically important factor, as we are strongest when we are unified,” McAlevy said. “From our experiences at CIBO last summer, to our collective struggles learning STATA, to the variety of challenges life has provided this past year, knowing that you, the individual, is included within this community makes facing these challenges manageable and approachable.
“Setting up a campsite can be difficult if you have no prior knowledge, but it is much easier knowing I can ask for help without judgement. I know the cohort has my back. I hope that the cohort knows I have theirs,” McAlevy added.
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