Any biology teachers out there?

HC_2

My daughter, an A2 biology student, should be going on a four-day residential field course run by the Field Studies Council later this year.

The course covers 'unfamiliar ecosystems' and students will 'apply their knowledge to describe and explain the distribution and abundance of different species that they encounter'. They will also 'be exposed to scientific data collection methods that are integral to this part of their A2 course, and will learn how to statistically analyse the data to a high level of sophistication'.

DD doesn't want to go, as she says it's a waste of time and that those days would be better spent attending lessons in her other subjects. She says she could easily learn anything she's missed by reading a classmate's notes.

I've suggested that she talk to her biology tutor and discuss how she feels.

Any objective comment from A-level biology teachers would be most welcome.

I appreciate that this is not really MSE - except that the trip will cost £240 (and I have twins, both taking biology at A level!). However, I admit that the cost is not the point - the point is that DD may well refuse to go.

So my question, in essence, is: how important is this field trip?