I don't see what good could have come from this trip. These kinds of things are just accidents waiting to happen.
I can't understand how 124 pairs of parents, or more if you consider step-parents, grandparents, etc., could have all collectively lost their judgment and condoned, even tacitly, such a foolhardy trip. I suppose as the story continues we will see more details of how the trip was "sold" to the parents by the students, who if anybody was in charge, what if any were the rules or guidelines and penalties, etc.