The hardest and most important fire we keep.
Emotional intelligence and inner work. In person. Allotment compatible.
Ember & Oak Institute is a local educational institute serving Mat-Su Valley homeschool families. We pair timeless wisdom with hands-on, Socratic learning. All programs satisfy both State and Federal requirements.
Founded by Aimee and Richard. In-person gatherings throughout the Mat-Su Valley for ages 10 to 17.
Steady Flame.
This is the hardest and most important fire we keep. We practice staying in the room when conversations get uncomfortable. We learn to name what we feel without blaming. We repair after we hurt someone.
What we practice
Staying present when things are hard. Learning to sit with discomfort instead of bolting or shutting down.
Speaking truthfully. Naming what we feel without blaming, so an honest conversation can happen.
Repairing what we break. The quiet, brave work of making things right after we have hurt someone we love. This path is led by Aimee, an Air Force medic and group facilitator who has spent years helping people work through hard things. The skills are not theory here. They are practiced, and they travel home.
Many parents tell us this is the program their children ask to return to. They change how families talk to each other long after the gathering ends.
How we actually gather.
Small and in person.
Usually 8 to 14 students, across the Mat-Su Valley. We meet around tables, and sometimes around an actual fire. The circle itself is the teacher.
Hands before screens.
We still work with voice, story, and presence. The tech stays at the edge of the room here. In Alaska, where winter nights are long, these skills matter.
The circle is the curriculum.
Most of what matters is learned while listening to someone else across the fire. We protect time for real conversation between generations.