News & Events

Batten Leadership Fellows - Upper School students who are civic-minded, socially aware, and active leaders - spend part of their summer traveling for experiential learning. This week, Fellows in the Class of 2027 are in Peru, while Class of 2028 Fellows are on Virginia's Eastern Shore. They both will take the lessons they learn back to NA, where they will inspire future projects.

Here is a daily recap through photos and student blogs:

Saturday, June 13

Peru: We started the day at our hotel in Lima, ate breakfast at the buffet, and took a short flight into the mountains of Cusco. At the airport, we met up with our guide for the week, Rúben, and boarded the bus. We made a brief stop to take in the views from the drive at Urubamba before arriving in Ollantaytambo. Once there, we walked around the square, played hackey-sack on the hotel terrace, and got ready for our first dinner together. We ended the day by walking into town to eat.

Sunday, June 14

Peru: We started the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then, we split up into two groups. One group got to see the oldest house in Ollantaytambo, where we got to see traditional Inca practices. We got to contribute to one of these practices by feeding cute Guinea pigs. Following that, the group visited Incan ruins and offered coca leaves to Pachamama. We learned about the traditions of the Quechua people, particularly about the crying mountain and the condor, puma, and snake (Spirit, Earth, Death). During this time, the other group visited Sacred Valley Health, which teaches women and teenage girls helpful lessons about healthcare that they can bring to their communities, empowering them to gain income and education. The group also learned about the uses of various medicinal herbs from one of the indigenous women at Sacred Valley Health. After lunch, we climbed one of the mountains overlooking the town and saw the ancient buildings. From the mountain, we could see the Incan steps on the other side of town, creating the shape of a llama. After the hike, we headed back down to Ollantaytambo to explore and eat dinner. Finally, we boarded a train to Aguas Calientes to prepare for Machu Picchu!

Monday, June 15

Eastern Shore: We started the morning with the introduction of our public servant simulation. Each person in each Fellows cohort was assigned a public office to research and create a campaign. The roles range from Governor to Conservation Officers to School Board members. We are to examine the demographics and various factors including resiliency in environmental, cultural, and economic sectors to create a backstory for our candidates and campaigns. After the introduction, we hopped on the bus and embarked upon our journey to the Eastern Shore. We started at the Barrier Islands Center, where we learned about the history of the Eastern Shore’s barrier islands and the people who called them home. This included the history of Cobb’s hotel and the family it’s named after. We also examined the prevalent watermen culture surrounding the area. We stopped in Cape Charles to partake of traditional seafood and talk to the locals. Following this, we went to the World Leadership School at VIMS, where we examined purpose and how it relates to our deeper personality, a journey we will continue tomorrow.

Peru: Today we woke up early to take a bus and walk up to see the ruins of Machu Picchu. We learned from our guide Ruben that two farmers found the ruins but it was officially discovered by an American archaeologist who hiked up the mountain and saw the remains through the vegetation. Up in Machu Picchu we saw many llamas and had multiple group photo opportunities. After Machu Picchu we went back to Aguas Calientes to walk around and have lunch. Then we had a bit of free time where many got a sweet treat and pet the hotel cat. After we went to a train station to get to Ollantaytambo where we found out that it was built under the presidency of Alberto Fujimori, a dictator. From Ollantaytambo we went to Calca where we visited a boarding school program, the Sacred Valley Project, designed to give secondary education to the girls in the villages that don’t have those options. Then, we came to our hotel, ate dinner and played soccer before a group of us went out into the square to watch performances by young kids that were dedicated to Pacha Mama, also known as Mother Earth. 

Tuesday, June 16

Eastern Shore: We started our morning with an amazing breakfast. Then we strolled back to VIMS to continue our purpose workshop. In today's lesson, we used our calling cards and impacts throughout our lives to create individual purpose statements. We finished our time at VIMS by listing possible project ideas related to our Fellows with one overarching idea that encompasses them all. Following lunch, we were split into two groups; one going to learn about Dos Santos and the other going on an adventure to buy fishing rods.  While at Dos Santos, we learned about the non-profit AWAC and its mission to sell donated goods to provide food and other necessities for migrant farm workers. Then we took a bus and hiked to a beach where we swam, relaxed, and caught a ray on our rods. Lastly, we came home and ate dinner, again made by teachers and students alike. We followed this with an insightful conversation regarding opportunities in rural areas and the possible effects of these potential projects.

Peru: To start the day we indulged in a breakfast consisting of an omelets and fresh fruit. Then, we prepared for the day by meeting with our research groups and discussing our respective topics. Next, we traveled to Museo Inkariy where we learned about several pre-Inca civilizations. Following our visit at the museum, we traveled to Ecohuella farm where we were taught about sustainable farming practices and seed banks. After a lovely home cooked meal, we were able to experience the process of weave-making. We had the opportunity to cut wool, wash it, spin it, and finally dye it. After purchasing some of their hand-made products, we traveled to a jewelry making organization that gave students the opportunity to work after school, and receive additional income for their families. We crafted our own rings and bracelets with the help of the students. Finally, we returned to the hotel and were greeted by the girls from the Sacred Valley Project school that we met yesterday. Here at the hotel we played soccer and card games and, most importantly, we enjoyed each other’s company. To wrap up the day, we enjoyed a delicious meal.

Wednesday, June 17

Peru: Today we started with a breakfast of eggs, potatoes, avocado, and bread. Then we headed out on the bus for a day trip that began in Moray. We got to look at an agricultural experiment that the Incans used hundreds of years ago. It was a natural hole in the ground, with a warmer microclimate at the bottom, which allowed for more plants to grow that didn’t normally adapt to the cold Andean climate. Then, as they got higher up the terraces, the crops would slowly acclimate. Afterwards, we stopped at a store in Maras and were able to buy salt, chocolate, and other souvenirs. We then went to the Maras salt mines. This salt mine is a major source of the salt exported from Peru to other countries such as the United States and most European countries. We learned that the different pools were passed down through families, and that the only way you could get one was by marrying into the family. If you were young, you got one farther away because you’re able to travel farther and work with more agility, and as you got older, your pool would be moved closer. Afterwards, we went to an archaeological site at Chinchero, which contained a temple where mummies were put. Ruben talked about how it reinforced the Inca belief of death not being a goodbye but a see you later, as you would be reborn in another world with the same hierarchical structures and relationships. We learned also about how Chinchero supports Cusco with its crops and the water from the lagoon. We also saw a large building that, depending on the government, may become a new international airport. We drove back and had pizza to end the day! We finished the night with a walk to the Plaza for more food, and played soccer back at the hotel as well!

Thursday, June 18

Peru: Our last morning in Calca was the coldest yet, but we greeted the day by waking up early and driving up the mountain to the Qenqo community. This indigenous community lives in the high Andes on a lagoon called Qoricancha, which means lake of gold. To break up the long bus ride, we frolicked on the mountain at 13,000 feet above sea level, before meeting up with the amazing Julia and Julio from the NGO Campesino Forestal. With them, we helped prune pine trees, which they hope will contribute to the community’s sustainability and self-reliance. They plan to plant one million trees as an investment for the younger generation, part of a larger effort to create more opportunities for young people to stay in their home communities instead of moving away to the larger cities. We also had the chance to speak with members of the Qenqo community about our specific fellow’s interests. 

We enjoyed hearing the many legends of the nearby laguna, like that mermen lure people to their deaths or that whirlpools on the bottom of the lagoon will suck those who dare to enter into the bottom of the lake and up to the mountains. Afterwards, we trekked down a llama-full hill to visit one of the 400 greenhouses built to increase the varieties of food available at the altitude; here, we sampled stellar strawberries. After saying our goodbyes, we set out to our final hotel in Cusco. We freshened up and went to enjoy our farewell dinner. We ate alpaca, drank chicha morada, and tried to talk over the energetic band playing in the restaurant. To finish the night, we were given time to explore Cusco, and we even convinced Flavio and Ruben to take photos with us! Overall, we were incredibly moved by the welcoming culture of the Qenqo community and enjoyed our bus ride bonding.