It is so drastically different most don't even notice it even after they leave. Opportunity starts with a living being, a monkey for example. They can learn many tricks and in some reseach labs they are even reported to be able to count. So we know a monkey can be taught to count. What students must realize is that they are human, capable of such abstract concepts of infinite space and time.
Humans are capable of creative, reflective and developmentive thought.
And the most imporant benefit is perhaps just being able to understand the concept of civilization on the planet we named earth. Here are some other ideas on education. If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.