Mark never wanted to move to a quiet town in New Hampshire, and he definitely did not want to attend Hardy Elementary. To make matters worse, his new science teacher, Mr. Maxwell, has already decided that Mark is nothing but a spoiled, lazy rich kid. The tension between them reaches a boiling point just as the entire fifth grade packs up for the school's famous annual camping trip: a full week in the woods. Mark slowly begins to appreciate the beauty of the outdoors, realizing that learning survival skills might actually be fun. But when a major misunderstanding pushes Mark to wander off into the dense forest alone, the camping trip turns into a dangerous test of endurance. Now, both Mark and Mr. Maxwell must face the unforgiving wilderness and their own stubborn judgments to make it out safely. This gripping adventure story explores fairness, first impressions, and the incredible courage it takes to survive in the wild.