Charles was born in North Platte, Nebraska where he enjoyed a delightful childhood. Growing up he often escaped to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming where he hiked, backpacked, fished, and rode horses with family and friends.
Charles moved to Tucson in 1990 to attend the University of Arizona where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in creative writing. He began his teaching career in 1996 teaching English in Korea. Later he taught language arts, civic education and puppetry at TUSD, Pima Community College, and the Tucson Museum of Art. In 2015 Charles graduated with a Master of Arts from the University of Arizona College of Education with an emphasis on Environmental Learning. Shortly thereafter he began working for Tucson Waldorf School as their Gardening Teacher. He feels the environment of the garden creates rich opportunities for discovery and learning. The children learn respect and kinship with the Earth through engaging in its process.
Charles still loves the wild places and he goes with his wife, Ileana, and two kids for hiking, camping or backpacking adventures whenever they can. He also enjoys playing guitar and violin, cycling, reading, yardening, traveling, consulting the I Ching and all aspects of food: growing it, preparing it, composting it and eating it. He even enjoys doing the dishes.