Private guided luxury travel company Kensington has sponsored this year’s Canadian Geographic Challenge, which provides Canadian secondary students the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of geography and critical thinking skills. 

According to a press release from Kensington, the Challenge “aims to tackle the decline in geography skills and knowledge by responding to the lack of experts in the field, the shutdown of post-secondary programs, and a drop in teachers trained to teach the subject.”

The sponsorship is funded through Kensington’s grant agreement with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and will also allow for finalists and educators to travel to Thailand for the International Geography Olympiad from July 26-August 1. 

Over 10,000 across Canada participated in the Canadian Geographic Challenge this year alone, with 20 finalists competing in Ottawa at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s headquarters.