http://www.permies.com/t/12644...
Here's another discussion about the price of the Permaculture Classes. Ontario-based. {Sort of like Alaska?}.
On my journey through graduate school, in retrospect most of what I learned I think I could have taught myself.
However, when there is a really great teacher, self-taught does not compare. On the other hand most of what graduate school is, is teaching you how to handle just about any learning challenge on your own. Maybe a permaculture class would be the same: teaching you how to learn, and then teaching you how to teach the same to others.