Young Scholars Fellowship: Pursuing Passion Projects

Arts/Humanities & STEM

Prepare to be amazed as you watch your differently-wired kiddo make real friends, explore this unique content, grow under the guidance of this expert mentor, and be seen in all their glory!

Why Take This Course?

📣 Imagine the excitement in your child’s eyes as they design and take their dream course on a topic of their choosing!

In Young Scholars Fellowship: Arts & Humanities Edition, young visual artists, creatives, writers, budding sociologists, historians, and any combination thereof, will delve into a Self-Directed Passion Project Arts & Humanities or STEM track available.

Here, it's all about Authentic, Individualized Passion/Inquiry-Based Learning!

Guided by our proven framework, participants navigate the entire project lifecycle:

  • ideation and research 

  • pacing and management

  • culminating in a final polished creation 

  • Young Scholar’s Symposium Project Presentation

  • Imagine the excitement in your child’s eyes as they design and take their dream course on a topic of their choosing! The Young Scholars Fellowship is designed for students to delve into Self-Directed Passion Projects with guidance from expert mentors, fostering true individualized passion and inquiry-based learning. 

    This unique fellowship offers two distinct tracks: Arts & Humanities and STEM.

    General Fellowship Overview

    In the Young Scholars Fellowship, rather than following direct instruction, students write their own curriculum for a project that means the world to them. With expert guidance, individualized feedback, and a proven framework, your child will thrive in a supportive community, fueled by collaborative research and development. Resources are custom-tailored to each student’s needs and desires.

    Guided by our proven framework, participants navigate the entire project lifecycle:

    • Ideation and Research

    • Pacing and Management

    • Culminating in a Final Polished Creation

    The Best Part: Students will showcase their Fellowship projects at our Young Scholar’s Symposium. This event is not just a culmination; it’s a celebration of authentic learning and achievement.

    Bonuses Include:

    • Pride in Creation: Your child crafts something truly special they can take pride in.

    • College Bragging Rights: Major bragging rights to colleges, showcasing their unique journey and skills.

    • Executive Function Skills: This course bakes in essential executive function skills like project planning, time management, and organization, which are highly valued by parents.

    • Modern Workforce Alignment: Aligned with essential life skills, preparing them for success in the modern workforce.

    Ignite your child’s passion, empower their creativity, and let them shine on their path to brilliance with the Young Scholars Fellowship!

    Arts & Humanities Track

    In the Arts & Humanities Edition, young visual artists, creatives, writers, budding sociologists, historians, and any combination thereof, will delve into projects that ignite their creativity and critical thinking. Projects might range from crafting compelling narratives and artworks to conducting historical research or sociological studies. Students will have dedicated time to cultivate personal projects within a supportive community, ensuring they develop both their technical skills and their ability to express their ideas and passions.

    Examples of Previous Student Projects:

    • Book Authorship: A student studied storywriting, painting, and branding, and then went on to outline and create a book.

    • Comic Book Design: Another student envisioned and created their very own comic book series, from characters to cover!

    • Historical Fashion Study: A student created period-era  clothes based on conducting historical studies comparing and contrasting various civilizations and political instituitions and how they affected fashion and dress throughout history.

    STEM Track

    In the STEM-focused Fellowship, students will explore the world through the lens of science, technology, engineering, and math. Based on their individual interests, observations, inquiries, and skills, learners will be guided through research to deepen their understanding and develop ideas for contributing to the broader scientific community. Projects may include designing and conducting experiments, building mathematical models, or creating innovative technological solutions.

    Examples of Previous Student Projects:

    • Creating Solar Ovens: Using reclaimed recycling materials to create low-cost, accessible ways to heat food for people without access to electricity.

    • Electromagnet Research: Exploring if electromagnets can kill bacteria and mold to keep food fresh longer and prevent food waste.

    • Container Garden Study: Conducting comparative studies on container gardens to 

    Join the Fellowship!

    By joining the Young Scholars Fellowship, your child will not only develop deep expertise in their chosen field but also gain invaluable life skills such as project management, critical thinking, and effective communication. 

    Secure your child’s place in this transformative program today and watch them thrive!

  • THE BEST PART! Students will showcase their Fellowship projects showcased at our Young Scholar’s Symposium. This event is not just a culmination; it's a celebration of authentic learning and achievement.

    Bonuses Include:

    • Pride in Creation: Your child crafts something truly special they can take pride in.

    • College Bragging Rights: Major bragging rights to colleges, showcasing their unique journey and skills.

    • Executive Function Skills: This course bakes in essential executive function skills like project planning, time management, and organization, which are highly valued by parents.

    • Modern Workforce Alignment: Aligned with essential life skills, preparing them for success in the modern workforce.

  • Materials for this course will be project dependent. For Visual Artists, preferred drawing medium is recommended. For writers and researchers, preferred writing implements are recommended (google docs preferred for ease of editing).

 

Ms. Amy (Arts)

Malikai (STEM)

Ages: 13-18

Length of class: 40 weeks

Class size: Maximum- 12 Students

Level: All

Price Per Session: $44

Our Promise To You

Satisfaction Guarantee:

Your child must attend the class in question to qualify.

If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses, here are your options:

  • Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first course begins to do one of the following options:

    • transfer to another course of the same price

    • get a 100% refund credit toward a future class

    • get a 75% money-back to the original payment method

  • The deposit made at the time of enrollment is non-refundable. 

    Cancellation options are:

    Payment plan: Cancellation requests received up to 24 hours after the first course begins will stop any future payments.

    Any cancellation requests beyond that require a 30-day notice to stop the membership/billing.

    Paid in full:

    Cancellation requests require a 30-day notice.

    The remaining balance at the end of the 30-day cancellation period can be used to transfer to another class or be converted to credit toward a future class.

How To Enroll

Explore Times

Click below to discover when this transformative course is blasting off:

What Our Parents Say…

  • “My kid won’t stop talking at the dinner table. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them so lit up about a project. I walk in the room and they’re surrounded by paper. This class inspired them.”

    -Barry

  • “My son feels safe in Amy’s classroom, and like his ideas matter. Her class is the one he looks forward to. There’s a nice community there, they all support each other.”

    -Stacey

  • “Amy was able to adapt curriculum to help my daughter grow quickly and stay engaged.”

    -Laura

Meet Your Mentor

Amy Bechtol

Amy Bechtol is a neurodivergent individual, educator, and activist. Six years ago she thought it would be fun to volunteer teach for a week as a break from entertainment design work, and accidentally found her passion. Amy has worked in neurodivergent and twice-exceptional education ever since, covering a wide breadth of topics from the humanities, to the sciences, to the visual arts. Her background as an entertainment designer and storyteller informs her teaching practices, finding ways to make content relevant to human experiences.

Amy loves getting to work with her students, who often share a neurology similar to her own, connecting them to curriculum in a way that is meaningful, novel, and fun. Utilizing a strength-based, talent-focused model, Amy seeks to engage learners by allowing them to connect their best, most authentic selves to the material. She believes that a state of growth is the natural state of a human mind, and it is the purpose of a classroom to facilitate that process, and allow it to be a joyful one.

Explore Other Courses Offered by Young Scholars Academy

Questions Asked By Fellow Parents

  • 4 KEY 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- Like-minded neurodivergent peers. Our asynchronous students need one another and YSA is a safe haven for these kiddos to connect around their asynchronies, quirks, and interests. We’re a place where they can be their authentic selves and make friends while doing so!

    3- 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

    4-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!

  • 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 =)

  • THIS IS A SATISFACTION GUARANTEE, so your child must attend the class in question to qualify.

    If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses, here are your options:

    1- 8-Week Courses Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first course begins to do one of the following options: 

    Payment plan or Paid in full- 3 options: transfer to another course of the same price, get a 100% refund credit toward a future class, or get a 75% money-back to the original payment method. 

    2-  16+ Week CoursesThe deposit made at the time of enrollment is non-refundable. Cancellation options are:

    Payment plan- Cancellation requests received up to 24 hours after the first course begins will stop any future payments. Any cancellation requests beyond that require a 30-day notice to stop the membership/billing.

    Paid in full- Cancellation requests require a 30-day notice. The remaining balance at the end of the 30-day cancellation period can be used to transfer to another class or be converted to credit toward a future class.

    Please read the description of each course before enrolling.

  • We do! We have 3 kinds:

    1- Word of mouth: 25% off- we know that the best way to reach new families is word of mouth. When you help another family enroll in a YSA class and they name you at checkout, you will get 25% off the cost of the course you’re currently enrolled in once they stay past the refund period. Note— this applies to all regular courses, BUT only applies to the first month of membership courses.

    2- Multi-sibling: 10% off- We believe in supporting whole families and we are willing to put our money where our mouth is! When you sign-up 2 or more kiddos you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

    3-Multi-course: 10% off- To fully serve your family, we hope to provide your child with all the courses they dream of taking! To make this more affordable, when you enroll in 3 or more classes, you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.

  • Of course!

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

    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.

  • 2e students experience such asynchronous development that it proves difficult to have hard age limits.

    We often evaluate students on a case by case basis =)

    Please email us and we’ll discuss: sam@youngscholarsacademy.org

  • All of our programs are 100% virtual. This allows us to bring together the twice-exceptional/neurodivergent students of the world, connect them, and nurture them!

    Your child may very well enter a 6-person class with 5 other students from 5 different states/countries!

    Cool, right?