Therapeutic Services

  • Individual therapy at least 1 hour / week, often more
  • Group therapy 1-3 hours a week with optional thematic groups
  • Weekly update calls between advisors and parents
  • Skype calls scheduled around 30 min/week (or more) between students and family members
  • Conference coaching calls with students, therapist, and parents as scheduled
  • New family workshop (typically 1-3 months after enrollment) in person 
  • Transition family workshop (typically 6-8 weeks before graduation) in person (or virtually)
  • Therapist Case Load Average = 6 to 8
  • ​Therapeutic Philosophy: Humanistic, holistic, integrative, empowering, family systems, process-based, growth mindset & skill development
  • Psychiatrist services available at extra cost per appointment
  • Full time nurse on staff

Academic Services

  • Grades 9-12
  • College Prep 
  • Year round schooling that mirrors US system - 5 terms per year (1.25 year long course credits / year) 
  • Number of Teachers = 5 full time + part-time arts + Academic Director / certified College Counselor
  • Class Sizes = 1 to 12 students per class
  • Classes Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 2:40pm with breaks every 2 hours for snacks / rest
  • Technology: Each student has a designated Chromebook for academic work (mostly offline but regularly synching G Suite for Education accounts and research).
  • College Counseling offered on site for additional price
  • Tutoring included in tuition
  • Academic Philosophy: Strengths-based approaches with Challenge-Based Learning to develop PROPS and 21st Century skills.

Experiential Education Services

  • Weekend recreational activities often integrating service, nature, and classroom projects
  • Physical education (team and individual sports) & personal training
  • Student-run clubs
  • Empowered Student Government
  • Integrated Aventuras (4 per year, mandatory for all students)
  • Recreational Aventuras during school breaks (for students who do not go home during break)
  • Cultural Immersion program = Besides regular integration and activities in our local hometown, we offer cultural immersion outings, integration of cultural immersion into integrated school projects, and the Home stay program for students who are interested.
  • Personal Technology: offline personal music device from day 1 + gradually increasing access to personal internet time (including eventual check out and check in of personal smart phone with wifi access) 

Transition Services

  • Transition Program = Specific workshops, transition planning and groups related to transition (for students graduating the program)

Students

  • Ages 14-18, most students are 16-17 years old
  • All Male
  • Length of Stay = 6 month commitment 
  • Range of Stay = 6-15 months
  • Average Length of Stay = 9 months
  • Maximum enrollment = 32 students on NSA's campus
    • Pandemic adjustment: Maximum of 24 students total on campus
  • Rolling Admissions
  • English-speaking 

Qualifications

Location

  • Small town (population 25,000) in mountainous area. 1 hour from the beach, 30 minutes from Juan Santamaria (code SJO) airport near San Jose
  • Privately owned 6 acre campus full of gardens, green areas, fruit trees, plants, birds, and the occasional visiting troop of monkeys :)
  • 4 dorm houses: Each dorm house consists of 2 rooms (4 students each) with shared porch, college-style bathroom and laundry room.
  • Academic Building; 5 classrooms, 1 academic resource room & large common area for events
  • Music & Documentary Film Studio
  • Administrative building with gym, lounge areas, kitchen, dining hall, and offices
  • Student Club House with student kitchen, computer/internet area, therapist offices, TV room, and pool & ping pong area.
  • Transition House off site for up to 9 students (currently suspending Transition House operations during the COVID-19 pandemic)

Organization

  • Private ownership (5 founders) - Owners on site
  • Employees are a mix of local Costa Ricans, USA employees, & other nationalities as well! Retention statistics are impressive.
  • All employees undergo background checks
  • No official religious affiliation, but spiritual connectedness supported and encouraged
  • Billing / Finances:
    • Tuition paid monthly
    • Last month's tuition deposit required at enrollment
    • Ancillary Account deposit required
    • Visa Fee Required. Custody remains with legal guardians but student visa paperwork requires signing limited Power of Attorney documents for emergencies
    • Insurance reimbursement for therapy and/or medical appointments depends on family insurance plan
    • Scholarship Fund provides around $50,000 a year in scholarships. Application required. 12+ month commitment required. 

Statistics

  • From January 2005 - July 2020, NSA and The Bridge have enrolled 467 young men.
  • Our staff retention is one of the best in the field.
    • 32% of our current staff joined NSA before or during 2010.
    • 75% of our current staff joined before or during 2015.
    • We are a family dedicated to each other so that we can create a home away from home for our students and their families.