Find a Sense of Belonging
Practical and creative tools to craft stories and design programs
that help people and places thrive.
with Interpretive Trainer, Keynote Speaker, and Creative Mentor
Erica Wheeler
Deliver Outstanding Visitor Experiences
Skill development for parks, museums, heritage sites, and mission-based organizations.
Celebrate What Matters Together
Uplifting sense of place keynotes and performances for conferences and communities.
Discover Stories of Place and Belonging
Experience events to cultivate a deeper sense of place.
“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
In today’s fast-paced world, we’re all searching for something deeper.
It’s common to experience a feeling of disconnection— from ourselves, our surroundings, and each other. We pass through landscapes and hear stories, but rarely feel the power they hold.
It’s not enough to simply visit a place or live somewhere.
We want something more:
connection, meaning, and belonging.
When we feel more rooted where we are, we feel more connected to who we are, and that feeling of disconnection starts to fade.
For some, that means slowing down, listening, and reconnecting—with our surroundings and ourselves.
For some, that means inspiring others by crafting narratives that move them and designing experiences that inspire action.
For everyone, finding stories grounded in a sense of place and belonging is within reach. And when we do, we find something that is deeply needed in our lives and the world today.
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 help people and organizations tell stories that matter, deepen connection and invite reflection, so that they can feel a personal connection with a place, story, or idea.
For over a decade, I’ve worked as an interpretive trainer for the staff at parks, museums, and heritage sites across North America, including working with dozens of National Park Service sites. I support interpreters, educators, and leaders as they craft meaningful, place-centered experiences.
As a keynote speaker, I explore themes of sense of place, tourism, storytelling, and belonging—fostering both inspiration and insights at conferences, events, and for communities to engage more deeply with where they are.
I also work with writers and creatives, helping them discover and shape personal stories of connection to place.
More on the About page →
“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
Let’s work together to 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, Landscape Educator, MA