Our Story

Embark Center began with a search for something that didn’t exist. As a parent of a bright, curious, and free-spirited learner, I saw firsthand how conventional systems failed to support kids who didn’t fit the mold. My daughter was always the square peg in the round hole—creative, expressive, full of energy and ideas—but constantly made to feel like she was the problem, not the system.

I looked everywhere for a learning environment that would honor who she was, not try to reshape her into someone else. When I couldn’t find it, I decided to build it—with the help of other families, educators, and young people who knew there had to be a better way.

Embark is the result: a self-directed, community-rooted space where young people are trusted to be the authors of their own lives and learning. It's not school—it's something more powerful. It’s a place where freedom and responsibility go hand in hand, and where each person is seen, heard, and valued.

Andrea Cubelo-McKay, Founder and Program Advisor

Our Purpose

Embark Center exists to nurture self-directed learning through freedom, trust, and community. We envision a world where young people are empowered to shape their lives with purpose and connection.