Nothing to add regarding teachers, but it does look like a lot of fun. LOL
When I was up in Alaska a couple of years ago (believe it was Ketchikan), and talking with a teacher there, and one of the things they do for the 8th grade class is they have an annual 4-5 day camping trip in the national forest surrounding the area. Not quite a "survival" type trip, but something where they do use outdoor skills, etc.