When families first join Embark Center, the hardest shift is often letting go of 'doing school.' Deschooling gives kids and parents the space to rebuild trust in curiosity, move beyond measurement, and embrace self-directed learning.

Embark teens help hire staff through a student-led Hiring Circle—reading applications, interviewing, giving tours, and deciding as a community. Michael reflects on progressive ed vs. self-directed education and what it means to trust young people with real responsibility.

Start here: a curated list of self-directed education resources—videos, books, articles, podcasts, and organizations—to help families understand and begin.

How Embark kept classes, mentoring, field trips, and community alive online—from D&D and philosophy to speaker series and network classes—while keeping member choice central.