Our program staff are the heart of our Northwest Outward Bound. They are committed and inspiring individuals living the values and core beliefs of Outward Bound on course and in their personal life. Their energy and skill are what makes us great and delivers a powerful life changing experience.

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Portland Programs Staff

Rob Healy (he/him)

Portland Program Director
Portland, Oregon

Rob Healy (he/him)

Portland Program Director

Rob is a lifelong Northwesterner originally hailing from the greater Seattle area. His background in outdoor education has spanned collegiate recreation and athletics, classroom and field based environmental education, and mountain guiding, as well as over a decade of volunteer work in Search and Rescue. Crediting the lessons he learned in the high country as some of the most profound in his life, Rob now directs Northwest Outward Bound School (NWOBS) Portland Programs, seeking ways to provide greater access to these experiences and opportunities in the Portland Metro area. When he is not working, Rob can be found exploring the outdoors, working on his expansive tabletop miniature collection, and spending time with his wife, cat, and chickens.

Ariel Watanabe (they/them)

Senior Course Director
Portland, Oregon

Ariel Watanabe (they/them)

Senior Course Director

Ariel grew up going outside, spending time under the sun and playing in the ocean, but never really considered themself to be "outdoorsy." It wasn't until college when Ariel realized that they had incredibly formative experiences in the outdoors that changed the way that they view themself, the Land and Water around them, and their place in it. Ariel is in this line of work because they want to able to help facilitate those experiences for others. Ariel wants people to walk away from course knowing their worth and their strength, being confident in who they are and how they show up in the world. Ariel is part of the Portland and Mazama Program Teams and has worked with NWOBS since 2021.

Adam Cook (he/him)

Summer Course Director & Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Adam Cook (he/him)

Summer Course Director & Instructor

Adam is an Instructor for NWOBS Portland Programs and has been working with NWOBS for the 2022-23 season. Adam’s passions land in the outdoor spaces. His super power is working with youth. Adam helps remove the barriers that hold ourselves back by letting each person with the group move into the growth zone.

Chuck Barnes (he/him)

Lead Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Chuck Barnes (he/him)

Lead Instructor

Chuck is the Lead Instructor for the NWOBS Portland Programs and has been working with NWOBS since March 2022. Chuck has extensive experience working with young people in both indoor and outdoor settings. He worked for The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) for twenty years as field instructor and outreach educator. He’s also led young men on 35 day canoe trips in Canada for the past eight summers. Chuck participated in both an Outward Bound course and a NOLS course as a student.

Adelle Peleg (she/her)

Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Adelle Peleg (she/her)

Instructor

Adelle is a big lover of the outdoors, creativity, community, and music! Adelle has been living in and exploring Oregon and the wider PNW since 2017 and working as an instructor with NWOBS since September of 2022. Some of her favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors are hiking, swimming, backpacking, and foraging! She is passionate about learning about and connecting with the native environment, forming meaningful bonds within her community, and being an agent in helping improve them both. While attending Lewis and Clark College, Adelle was a leader of the student-run outdoors program, which included backpacking, camping and kayaking trips. When she’s not running around outside, Adelle loves to paint, see live music, geek out about rock & roll and movies, and cook!

Ben Steiner (he/him)

Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Ben Steiner (he/him)

Instructor

Ben Steiner is an educator who has spent nearly a decade bringing new experiences to students from across the globe. In 2006, Ben joined an Outward Bound expedition as a wayward teen, and the adventure was transformative. Ben is passionate about bringing similar experiences to youth through his work at NWOBS. Currently, Ben is working with NWOBS Portland Public Schools programming, facilitating social-emotional learning activities in and outside the school building.

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Portland Program Staff

Portland Programs Staff

Rob Healy (he/him)

Portland Program Director Portland, Oregon

Rob Healy (he/him)

Ariel Watanabe (they/them)

Senior Course Director Portland, Oregon

Ariel Watanabe (they/them)

Adam Cook (he/him)

Summer Course Director & Instructor Portland, Oregon

Adam Cook (he/him)

Chuck Barnes (he/him)

Lead Instructor Portland, Oregon

Chuck Barnes (he/him)

Adelle Peleg (she/her)

Instructor Portland, Oregon

Adelle Peleg (she/her)

Ben Steiner (he/him)

Instructor Portland, Oregon

Ben Steiner (he/him)

Sign Up for Updates

NAVIGATION

PART OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.

Portland Program Director
Portland, Oregon

Senior Course Director
Portland, Oregon

Summer Course Director & Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Lead Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Instructor
Portland, Oregon

Instructor
Portland, Oregon