At Embark Center, learning isn’t defined by classes—it’s defined by growth. While some students take classes and others never do, all are developing the same critical skills: self-direction, collaboration, confidence, and adaptability. Through real-world projects, community decision-making, and authentic responsibility, they learn how to manage their time, communicate effectively, solve problems, and trust themselves. At Embark Center, classes are simply tools in the toolbox—the real work is learning how to build a meaningful life.

When families join Embark Center for Self-Directed Education, they expect freedom — but they may not expect the emotional work that comes with it. Here’s how encountering different family rules helps kids grow in empathy, resilience, and self-awareness.

Leaving school can bring unexpected grief. Parents and kids often find themselves mourning more than an institution — they’re letting go of schoolishness, the belief that grades define worth and that belonging comes from doing things “the right way.” This reflection explores the quiet ache of stepping outside the tribe of school, and how families move through loss toward new kinds of connection and growth.

We trust toddlers and adults to learn through curiosity and self-direction — so why not school-age kids? This post explores the school-age paradox, showing how free play, autonomy, and self-directed learning for kids prepare them not just for college and work, but for life itself. Discover why rigid curriculum is a poor predictor of the future — and why trusting children’s natural drive to learn matters more than ever.

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.