Rolling enrollment open. Courses prorated.

Explore now.
logo
Sign In Browse Courses
Community

Lessons From The River Nile

Reflections from a boat on the Nile on how community sustains us—and an invitation to YSA's final open house of the school year.

By Sam Young 3 min read
Lessons From The River Nile

Sending you an email from a boat on the River Nile in Egypt.

As we sail down this sacred, life-giving river, I can’t help but contemplate ancient civilizations, present-day cultures, and humanity, at large.

As the sun drops below the tree line, I’m sipping date juice, hearing the call to prayer ring out from the minarets as it echos off the banks of the river, all while the ever-changing fragrance from the vegetation shifts with every gust of the warm Sahara winds.

As we drift along, red and white sail thrown to the wind, my mind keeps going back to our little virtual village.

The River Nile was, and is, a source of strength and community for the Egyptian people. It’s a place that allows people to congregate, nourish their minds and bodies, share ideas, and grow.

No matter where one goes in Egypt, they are there because the Nile supports and enables them to be there.

This is a lesson that all of humanity benefits from.

Whether we’re on the banks of the River Nile, or any other place in the world, we depend on community.

This is an important lesson at an important time.

We are less than two weeks away from our final open house of the school year…

The Open House is Weds, April 17 @ 4 PM PT/7 PM ET/11 AM AEDT (next day)

This is one of the most important—if not the most important—community events of the year.

The Open House is essentially a virtual version of a back-to-school night at a brick-and-mortar school.

It’s a night where you come, congregate with other families, and connect with your child’s future teachers in intimate breakout sessions for up to 20 minutes! As you float around, from session to session, you will meet the 22 mentors here at Young Scholars Academy, ask your burning questions, and build relationships BEFORE you even sign up!

One little downside…

This meeting won’t be recorded so don’t miss it!

To ensure you don’t miss this important event, CLICK HERE

This is the final Open House of the year so please don’t miss this! Click Here to congregate with your people, discover the support you dream of, and you’ll find your own River Nile here at YSA!

About Young Scholars Academy

Young Scholars Academy is a WASC-accredited virtual learning community offering 200+ live online courses and camps for gifted or 2e children ages 5–18, in classes of 6–8 students, led by neurodivergent mentors. Young Scholars Academy currently serves 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries, with a 93% semester-over-semester re-enrollment rate. ESA funding is accepted in 10+ states.

Explore Fall Courses

You don't have to figure this out alone.

Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a class they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.

Related Posts

3 Proven Strategies To Help Your 2e Kiddo Make Friends, NOW!

Community

3 Proven Strategies To Help Your 2e Kiddo Make Friends, NOW!

2 min read Say Goodbye To Social Skills Classes And Hello To Dungeons & Dragons

Community

Say Goodbye To Social Skills Classes And Hello To Dungeons & Dragons

6 min read FALL IS HERE!

Community

FALL IS HERE!

6 min read

COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions Parents Ask.

Everything you need to know about Young Scholars Academy.

What is Young Scholars Academy?

YSA is a WASC-accredited virtual village for gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students ages 5–25. We offer 200+ live online courses (from Minecraft Redstone Engineering to AP Psychology to Mock Trial) with a maximum of 6–8 students per course, taught by 20 hand-selected mentor teachers who are neurodivergent themselves. We serve 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries. This is not a marketplace. It's a school and a community.

How does it work?

During Fall and Spring semesters, courses meet once a week, live on Zoom, 50 minutes per session. During Summer, camps run Monday through Friday, one week at a time. When your child enrolls in 3 or more courses, they get free access to Homeroom Social Club — a weekly gathering with a consistent group of friends. Between courses, students hang out on our virtual campus where they walk as avatars, eat lunch together, and build real friendships with kids from around the world who finally get them.

Who is this for?

Gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students, including kids with ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety, dyslexia, and PDA. No diagnosis required. If your child is clever, quirky, and hasn't found their people yet, they belong here. About 65% of our families homeschool. The rest use us alongside traditional or charter schools.

Is this a low-demand environment?

Yes. Enrichment courses have no grades and no traditional homework. However, for-credit courses include assignments and letter grades. Cameras always optional. Challenge by choice. Students are never cold-called, never forced to participate, and never penalized for how they choose to engage. For students with PDA, demand avoidance, or anxiety, this is the difference between a program they resist and one they ask to log into.

How much does it cost?

Semester courses start at $624. Summer camps are $149–$169 per camp. Payment plans, sibling discounts, referral credits, and ESA/charter funding accepted. We're an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs.

Will my child actually make friends?

This is the part that surprises parents most. Your child joins a course about something they love and meets 6–8 kids who love it too. Same group all semester (or all week for camps). Parents tell us their children are more connected with this community than with anyone physically around them. 93% of families re-enroll because their kids won't let them stop.

What if it doesn't work?

100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Switch courses, receive a credit, or stop payments. No questions asked. We can offer this because we know what happens when these kids find their people.

What do parents get?

Virtual Coffee & Connect hours every couple of weeks. Regular Expert Talks with leaders like Seth Perler, Debbie Reber, and Dr. Temple Grandin. A Facebook group where families connect and support each other. Progress updates from mentors. And the ability to watch your child's courses anytime (just stay off camera). You're not just enrolling your child. You're joining a village.