A fresh look at how adults can support young people without controlling them—modeling curiosity, vulnerability, and genuine partnership so kids can build confidence, autonomy, and emotional resilience.

A look at how kids naturally learn math through real-life experiences—like shopping, cooking, gaming, and exploring the world—without needing forced instruction.

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.

Families across the political spectrum are rethinking education. For some, it’s about giving their children the chance to thrive; for others, it’s about survival in environments that no longer feel safe or responsive. Yet the phrase school choice itself has become a political dog whistle—dividing the very people who could be working together. If we can move beyond partisanship, we can begin to build a broad coalition committed to freedom, accountability, and equity for every child.

Parents often worry: “What if my child just plays video games all day?” At Embark Center, we hear this all the time. This post explores why video games aren’t the enemy, what kids are really gaining, and how to reframe the “worst-case scenario” into something far less scary. Most of all, it’s about trust—trusting your child’s curiosity, their growth, and their unique path.