Outdoor School Director (They/them)

Growing up in Arizona, young Hales fell in love with the Sonoran desert and had a healthy obsession for reptiles. As a youngin, they hiked and camped with their dad and were a ZooTeen at the Phoenix Zoo in farm and equine. Their kinship with animals led them to work in the veterinary field and animal husbandry for many years.

Hales is an avid culinary mushroom forager and spends most weekends calling for them among the lush moss and tardigrades. The land they feel most connected to is the desert magic in Alvord which frames the darkest skies in Oregon. They are a dancer and spend most of their time taking dance classes and plotting ways to get their friends together to boogie down.

Their passion for becoming a veterinarian led them to earn a degree in Biological Science and later a Masters in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Colorado State University. Most recently, Hales worked at the University of Oregon as the Coordinator of LGBTQ+ Education and Support Services for the last four years. Hales brings a lot of experience and interest in equity work, particularly supporting students in crisis and LGBTQIA+ communities, integrating trauma-informed care practices into programs, and creating inclusive working and learning environments.