Find Your Story
Sense of Place Training, Keynotes and Classes for Organizations, Communities and Individuals
A sense of place can enrich how we experience the world.
Having a sense of place can help you:
→ Feel more connected to where you are
→ Find more meaning in everyday experiences
→ Strengthen relationships with ourselves, our communities, and our surroundings.
What if the places where we live, work, and visit felt more like places of belonging?
We might begin to see places differently, not simply as locations, but as sources of meaning, memory, identity, and possibility.
We might discover inspiration for our work, deeper roots in our communities, and a stronger sense of belonging towards the places we call home.
People enter this work through different doors.
Some are seeking a more personal connection.
Others are looking for tools and experiences to help others find their connections.
Wherever you begin, a sense of place is a journey of meaning and discovery that can shift how you see the world around you, offer new possibilities, and find the stories that sustain you along the way.
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
Hello, I’m Erica Wheeler
I'm the founder of Sense of Place Consulting and an interpretive trainer, keynote speaker, performer, songwriter, and creative mentor.
My work brings together interpretation, storytelling, creative practice, and a sense of place lens to help people explore the layers of time, meaning, memory, and perspective that places hold.
For more than two decades, I have helped parks, museums, historic sites, communities, organizations, and individuals explore their sense of place and discover the stories, meanings, and possibilities those connections reveal.
The framework, tools, and practices I use have been shaped through decades of in-the-field experience and a lifelong commitment to connecting people and place.
People leave with a stronger sense of place, a clearer understanding of what matters, and practical ways to bring those insights to life in their work, communities, and everyday lives.
“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
Let’s Work Together
Training for parks, museums, heritage sites, learning centers, and organizations.
Create meaningful tours, exhibits, and visitor experiences through a comprehensive training framework that includes practical tools and practices to enrich sense of place connections.
Explore Interpretive Training →
Sense of Place Training
Event Keynotes
Keynotes for conferences and events focused on tourism, stewardship, interpretation, heritage, wellness, and community.
A journey of story, song and conversation customized to connect audiences to places, purpose, and the deeper meaning behind their work.
Explore Keynotes →
Public Programs
Events and programs for communities, organizations,
and individuals.
Uncover and develop your own stories of connection or bring people together through public events rooted in story, place, and belonging.
Discover how deeper sense of place can enrich your life and your work.
Learn more about this approach.
Start here →
Questions?
Get in touch →
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