Mat-Su Valley · Alaska · 61.6°N
Alaska's next builders, made in the Valley
AI and robotics are shaping the future. We think that future should be built right here, by Mat-Su kids and the parents learning beside them.
Our mission
Lifting up the whole Valley
Ember & Oak Institute exists to help Mat-Su families get ready for a world shaped by AI and smart machines. We believe the best way to prepare is to build. Kids dream up an idea, direct AI to build it, then put their hands on the result: assembling robots, testing them, and making them better. Parents learn right alongside them. Every family that learns these skills makes the Valley a stronger place to live, work, and invent.
Our work
Idea, build, test, improve
Start with an idea.
Students learn design thinking: spot a problem, imagine a solution, and plan it out.
Direct the AI.
Students learn to prompt and guide AI tools to build the software and robot designs they imagine.
Build and test.
Students assemble robots by hand, test them in the real world, and improve each version.
Built for kids and parents
A program for the whole family
Our homeschool students learn by doing. Parents are welcome too. Our parent workshops let you learn alongside your kids, so the conversation keeps going at the kitchen table.
Skill levels
Start where you are
We group learners by skill, not age. A curious beginner and a seasoned tinkerer each get the right challenge.
Novice:
First ideas, first prompts, first robot that moves.
Intermediate:
Sharper prompts, more complex builds, and careful testing with more independence.
Advanced:
Ambitious projects students design and direct from idea to finished, tested build.
Approved IDEA homeschool vendor
Ember & Oak Institute is an approved IDEA homeschool vendor. Please check with your IDEA advisor about using allotment funds for our programs.
Let's build the future here
Join our Facebook community for updates and conversations with other Valley homeschool families.
Newsletter
Stay in the loop
Monthly notes on AI, robotics and learning by building in the Mat-Su.