My son is in Scouts. One of the reasons is that I think this skill is so important. Ask Jeff Head about the need to train young men in survival tactics. You get lost in Idaho and that's it.
Be Prepared
I travel in areas where it is easy to get lost, I have done it several times, but I do know how to get unlost.
I now use GPS on my Palm or notebook and always have a shovel, blanket and water in my SUV. I use to carry USGS topo maps before GPS.