Better Stories.
Stronger Connections.
Practical and creative tools to help people and places thrive.
with Erica Wheeler Interpretive Trainer · Keynote Speaker · Creative Mentor.
What if the places where we live, work, play, and visit felt like places of belonging?
What if our stories helped us slow down, notice more, and feel more connected—to ourselves, to one another, and to the world around us?
For decades, I’ve helped communities, organizations, and individuals uncover stories that deepen connection—to place, to purpose, and to each other.
Through my Sense of Place and Story Framework, I share practices that ground people in story, root them in place, and foster a meaningful sense of belonging. This work has been shaped through years of in-the-field experience with interpreters, educators, historians, conservation advocates, and creatives.
People leave my programs with clearer stories, stronger skills, renewed energy, and a steadier sense of direction in their work and lives.
Everyone has stories of place and belonging, waiting to be remembered and revealed.
Let’s find yours.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, NextGen Summit, Mount Greylock, MA
“You are missing out if you aren’t booking Erica for a workshop or training. Her “sense of place” concept featured excellent hands-on exercises in an area so often perceived as intangible, while her keynote was just the dose of inspiration we needed.”
—Chief of Interpretation, Arkansas State Parks and Tourism
Hello, I’m Erica Wheeler
I’m the founder of Sense of Place Consulting, and my work explores the intersections of story, place, and meaning in our lives.
I work with parks, museums, historic sites, conservation organizations, and community settings to help people create experiences that foster connection between people and place. I also work with communities, organizations, and individuals to surface personal stories of connection and belonging.
Through my programs, I offer tools and practices honed through decades of experience—approaches that help people connect more deeply to themselves, their surroundings, and each other.
At the heart of my work is a simple focus: discovering stories rooted in a sense of place—stories that help us feel oriented, grounded, and in touch with what matters most.
When we begin to notice the stories places hold—and the ones we hold, too—something shifts. We find, as poet Mary Oliver wrote, “our place in the family of things.”
From that place, caring takes root—shaping work that is thoughtful, grounded, and resonant.
Learn more about my philosophy and approach →
“We brought Erica in to help us master the art of storytelling and to learn how to share the meaning of these places even more effectively. When we worked with Erica before, it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. I was thrilled by seeing the growth in rangers and the inspiration they gleaned.”
National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, DC
Three Ways to Work Together
Interpretive Training
For parks, museums, historic sites, learning centers and organizations that connect people and place
Keynotes
For tourism organizations, historic preservation and conservation, interpretation and education, wellness and well-being
Programs for the Public
Classes, workshops,
retreats and concerts
Wondering What’s Possible?
I’ve helped interpreters and teams design programs and interpretive media that invite deeper engagement and help people connect meaningfully with place.
I’ve supported community engagement through customized concerts and reflective workshops that bring people together around shared stories and collective appreciation for the places that surround them.
I’ve guided writers, educators, and creatives to find clarity, strengthen their voice, and navigate transitions with grounded purpose.
No matter where you begin, you’ll find a clear, supportive process woven through all I offer—one that strengthens both your personal and professional work.
Let’s bring your stories to life.
“Erica’s workshop rekindled my connection to nature that first inspired me to work in this field, and I left with the tools and resolve to tap more into the power of place as well as the inspiration to help others do the same.”
— Claire Dacey, Naturalist, Educator, Artist, MA