Learning That Matters When You Want It

Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that helps twice-exceptional & differently-wired students to feel seen, nurtured, and happy as heck through strength-based courses, camps, and community!

These Courses Were Built For You!

You’re busy and you need learning built around your schedule.

Explore how to provide your child with a safe place where they:

  • Learn content they’re fascinated with

  • Are seen for their superpowers

  • Build confidence in themselves

  • Become heroes of their own journey

If you’ve ever thought this, you’re in the right place- and you’re not alone.

“I dream of a empowering my child to learn the content that they’re interested in because I know when the focus is on their interests and strengths they shine so bright and feel so good!”

“I long for my child to find a safe learning environment where they can learn how and when best aligns with their strengths so they can come away more confident each day.”

Why Choose Self-Paced Classes for Neurodivergent Learners?

  1. Learn at Their Own Speed

No pressure, no deadlines, just learning when it works best.

  1. No Social Stress

A comfortable, private space to focus without distractions.

  1. Follow Their Passions

Engaging topics that spark interest and boost motivation.

Life Skills Classes

Essential Life Skills for Teens: Boundaries, Empathy Comfort and Red Flags

In this flexible, self-paced course, students will explore key life skills needed to navigate dating with confidence and care, all from the comfort of home. Through pre-recorded lessons, I share personal experiences and offer practical tips centered on the 3 Key C’s:

  • Comfort – Learn to set boundaries and communicate feelings clearly.

  • Care – Prioritize self-care and treat others with kindness, even when ending relationships.

  • Caution – Spot red flags, use technology safely, and trust your intuition.

This course is designed to provide a welcoming, judgment-free space where kids can engage privately at their own pace. There’s even a fun trivia game at the end to reinforce what they’ve learned!

Ideal for teens and pre-teens, this course focuses on healthy communication, emotional intelligence, and decision-making, without touching on sex education or intimacy. It’s all about building confidence in a way that’s inclusive, engaging, and respectful.

Join us to empower your young person with the tools they need to thrive in the world of dating!

Ages 12-21

Anatomy Unlocked: Explore the Human Body

This playful, kid-centered course introduces young learners to the bones of the body through engaging lessons and fun activities! Kids will learn real medical terms (the fancy names doctors use) while exploring the skeletal system and how it helps us walk, talk, and stay healthy.

With 8 engaging video lessons that can be watched anytime, plus games and activities, kids will discover anatomy through hands-on learning and play.

Highlights:

  • Learn the basics of human anatomy and physiology.

  • Discover scientific names for bones used by doctors.

  • Explore how bones keep our bodies strong and how to keep them healthy.

🎉 At the end, kids earn a Bone Expert Certificate to celebrate their achievement!

Ages 10-18

Dino Discovery: Facts vs. Fiction

Get ready to dive into the prehistoric world of dinosaurs with this fun, self-paced course! Perfect for dino enthusiasts who love movies like Jurassic World and Camp Cretaceous, this course explores the fascinating facts vs. fiction behind 8 popular dinosaurs.

Each lesson uses play-based learning to make discovering real dino facts exciting. Kids will explore:

  • Where dinosaurs really lived

  • What they actually ate

  • What features made them unique (without Hollywood’s exaggerations!)

Every lesson includes a 20-minute video on a specific dinosaur, followed by a trivia game and optional activities to reinforce learning. Topics cover well-known dinos like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Ankylosaurus, and more!

💻 The course is flexible—kids can learn at their own pace, in their own time zone, and on their preferred device. They’ll also enjoy access to fun dinosaur-themed games on Blooket, building their knowledge while playing.

This course is perfect for any young paleontologist excited to separate facts from fiction and understand the real science behind their favorite dinosaurs!

Ages 10-18

Gamer Classes

Science Lab Minecraft Chemistry

NEED DESCRIPTION

your guide to the amazing world of Minecraft Chemistry. I'll share exciting project lessons for you in our self-paced, asynchronous classroom for you to follow along, learn, and then unleash your creativity in your own Minecraft Education/Bedrock Edition world.

Ages 12-21

Life Cycle of Frogs in Minecraft

In this flexible, self-paced course, students will explore the fascinating life cycle of frogs through an immersive Minecraft experience. Using four educator-created video lessons, learners will dive into real-world frog biology while also discovering advanced Minecraft commands and in-game frog facts.

Through interactive, hands-on activities, students will build a frog habitat, create a frog banner and statue, and observe frog development stages in Minecraft. This engaging approach promotes deeper understanding, creativity, and problem-solving skills—all while having fun!

To extend learning, we’ll go beyond the simple three-stage amphibian life cycle and explore the full seven-stage real-world life cycle of frogs, comparing it to how Minecraft represents these fascinating creatures.

I also provide bonus Minecraft-themed activity pages, including two frog life cycle mazes, a Sudoku puzzle, and a frog life cycle template. I am highly responsive to student posts, answering questions with positive and specific feedback to support their learning journey.

What Students Will Learn:

  • Understand the frog life cycle stages in both Minecraft and real life.

  • Get hands-on in Minecraft by building a frog habitat, frog banner, and frog statue.

  • Observe frog development stages within Minecraft for active engagement.

  • Strengthen creativity and problem-solving through Minecraft projects and frog-themed puzzles.

Ideal for ages 10-18, this course offers a unique blend of science and gaming to make learning both engaging and memorable.

Join us and explore the life cycle of frogs in a whole new way—through the immersive world of Minecraft! 🐸🎮

Ages 10-18

How to Haiku for Gamers

In this flexible, self-paced course, students will explore haiku poetry in a way that sparks creativity, strengthens sensory awareness, and builds confidence—all from the comfort of home. Designed especially for gamers, this course turns favorite video game settings into inspiration for poetry, making writing both engaging and accessible.

Through pre-recorded lessons, students will learn about syllables, practice observing details in their favorite games, and improve focus through this concise poetry format. This course prioritizes creativity and self-expression, with no emphasis on spelling, punctuation, or grammar.

What Students Will Learn:

  • Recognize that haikus often focus on nature and seasonal themes.

  • Identify the traditional haiku structure (5-7-5 syllables).

  • Use simple, clear language to capture vivid moments.

  • Write original haikus inspired by nature and gaming environments.

Ideal for ages 10-18, this course offers a fun and accessible way to develop creative writing skills without the pressure of traditional language arts instruction.

Join us and turn your favorite gaming worlds into poetic inspiration!

Ages 10-18

Engineering Redstone Roller Coaster with Minecraft Physics

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Ages 12-21

Math Minecraft Solving Division

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Ages 10-18

How to Haiku for Gamers

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Ages 10-18

What Our Parents Say…

  • “I’ve honestly never seen my son have this much fun learning before. It’s the only place I’ve found that I don’t have to fight him to attend.”

    -Monet

  • “YSA is the best-kept secret in the 2e world. Once you’re in, you’ll see why!”

    -Liza ‍

  • We love adding self-paced classes to our Homeschool curriculum! My son loves the fun variety of topics and that he can work at his own pace.

    -Sara

 FAQs

  • Young Scholars Academy was founded because there was a real need to reach marooned, isolated students the world over. There were so many differently wired students who were stuck in their zip codes, and were not otherwise able to connect, often feeling like there's something wrong with them. feeling misunderstood. And Young Scholars Academy was founded as a safe haven as a virtual village where not only the students could come together and connect and make friends where they could connect with these expert mentors, but also where parents could come together and realize that there's nothing wrong with the students. There's nothing wrong with the families. There's nothing wrong with the parents. It's that they were simply just out of context and in the right setting with the right supports. These students can thrive, make friends and live their best lives.

  • Simple! 3 things:

    1- A focus on the positive! We don’t focus on what students aren’t doing, we support what they are and we know the rest will come. We develop strengths, interests, and relationships. We build students up so they can build a better world! And do it with the new friends they make in our program!

    2- Passionate, masterful neurodivergent mentors who have walked the walk and can authentically validate and support your child with personal experience and care AND expertise as we all have advanced masters + degrees

    3-Content your students care about taught in a way they love! We offer the courses they need to be taking, not the ones they’re required to take.

    Come by and see for yourself!

  • Of course! Our programming is for students who are not being supported or challenged enough in school.

    If you have an asynchronous kiddo who you know has strengths and struggles, our courses are for your child.

    As we like to say, if you’re on our site, you’re in the right place.

  • Please don’t confuse reactive “distance learning” and virtual enrichment programming. After all, a student who is completely fried from a boring zoom class is often quick to pick up a tablet or phone, right?

    Our courses are not at all the same animal =)

Picture This…

It’s dinner time at your house. As your child sits down and you check in with them about their day, they reach out, excited to tell you what they learned today, and that they can’t wait to dive into the next lesson!

👋 “Hi!”From Our Director

Wherever your child is on their twice-exceptional/neurodivergent journey, NOW is the best time to take the next step towards thriving- and at Young Scholars Academy, you can see your child thriving from day 1.

If we don’t already know each other, I want you to know that I quit my job for your child. I know that you may be feeling anxious, uncertain, or frustrated about what the next step is on the journey to seeing your child become all that you know that they are capable of being.

-Mr. Sam

Your Child’s Dream Classes!

Speech & Debate: The Powers of Persuasion

Join Speech & Debate to develop reasoning and perspective-taking, as well as to make leaps and bounds in both public speaking and confidence.

Ages 10-18

Young & Thriving: Middle & High School Edition

Join Young & Thriving to explore proven executive function strategies, and create individualized, strength-based roadmaps for long-term achievement.

Ages 10-18

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