Ben Woodward had few expectations going into the 2017 Canadian Geographic Challenge finals. The Grade 10 student from Central Secondary School in London, Ont., was just happy to be spending the weekend in Ottawa with, as he put it, 19 fellow “geography nerds” from across Canada.

But in the ultimate event of the challenge at the Canadian War Museum on June 5, Woodward topped the scoreboard through eight rounds of tough questions on everything from the Arctic to alpacas to clinch the championship and $5,000.

“I was a little nervous, but once I got up on the stage I just focused, and after a few questions, I got into the rhythm of things,” he said.

His one regret? “I’m really into physical geography, so I’m disappointed I didn’t get that alluvial fan question!” 

The performances of the five finalists — Woodward, Aaron Abraham (Calgary), Thomas Emmanuel Côté (Longueuil, Que.), Jake Douglas (Peterborough, Ont.), and Evan Fingerhut (Dartmouth, N.S.) — earned the admiration of the host of this year’s final, Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques. Earlier in the afternoon, Saint-Jacques told an audience of mainly students that his own exciting career, which will see him blast off for the International Space Station next November, began with a childhood fascination with the planet. 

“I encourage you to listen to your heart and find your dream,” he said. “Sometimes the dream is scary, but not chasing it is scarier.” 

It was a pleasure to host the national finals of the @CanGeo Challenge today! Congratulations to the finalists, you guys were great! pic.twitter.com/NxFLEeFGkx

— David Saint-Jacques (@Astro_DavidS) June 5, 2017

Woodward and his fellow “geography nerds” will now have a chance to experience Canada’s unique geography and spectacular wildlife firsthand. In a first for the Challenge, One Ocean Expeditions has awarded the five finalists an all-expenses-paid 10-day cruise around Atlantic Canada, departing July 5. Among the iconic destinations they’ll visit are Nova Scotia’s historic Fortress of Louisbourg and Sable Island (famous for its wild horses), Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park and the French territory of Saint Pierre et Miquelon.