Better Stories.
Better Connections.
Gain a sense of place and belonging — anywhere.
with Erica Wheeler | Interpretive Trainer · Keynote Speaker · Writing Mentor
At the heart of this work is this simple truth:
When we find our stories of connection to places, we help both people and places thrive.
By exploring the layers of time and stories a place holds—and the ones we hold as well—something shifts. We begin to see our relationship to place more clearly and feel what poet Mary Oliver described as finding “our place in the family of things.”
From that place of connection, caring takes root.
It begins with sensing where you are and learning to work with stories that help us see the familiar through new eyes.
“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 I’d 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
Welcome. I’m Erica Wheeler.
I’m the founder of Sense of Place Consulting. My work explores the intersections of story, place, and meaning in communities, organizations, and everyday life.
I offer interpretive training, keynotes, community programs, and writing courses, informed by decades of in-the-field experience with parks, museums, historic sites, organizations and communities across the country.
Through the Sense of Place Story Framework, I share practices and tools that help people explore the layers of time and story around them. As a result, people slow down, notice more, and reconnect—to themselves, their surroundings, and one another.
They leave with practical skills they can use in their personal or professional work, and with a stronger sense of place and belonging.
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
Sense of Place Programs
For Organizations · Communities · Individuals
Interpretive Training
For natural and cultural
heritage sites, parks, museums, learning centers, and organizations.
Explore Training →
Sense of Place Keynotes
For conferences, gatherings, and events focused on wellness,
tourism, preservation and community.
Explore Keynotes →
Public Programs
Concerts, workshops,
classes, and retreats
for individuals and
communities.
Curious what’s possible?
This approach can help you elevate your professional work— and help you relate more intentionally to place, story, and meaning in everyday life
For Interpreters
Design programs and media that invite deeper engagement and connection.
For Communities
Bring people together through concerts and workshops rooted in shared stories and place.
For Writers and Creatives
Find clarity, strengthen your voice, and navigate transitions with purpose.
Wherever you begin, you’ll find a clear, supportive process woven through everything I offer.
Questions?
Let’s explore what’s possible →
“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
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