Helping youth and educators find their stories and make a difference.
Erica has worked directly with students and youth in many communities, offering classroom and in-the-field programs as well as youth leadership training and seminars. She has also worked with educators from Walden Pond to Yosemite.
Youth Leadership
Being able to communicate what we care about and why is a core competency for making a difference in the world. Erica’s simple yet powerful framework helps youth discover, define and express their individual sense-of-place stories. Erica’s programs help students and youth find their personal sense of place stories, which they can apply in their life and academic work.
✓ Experience a process that helps to gain a sense of place and belonging anywhere.
✓ Integrate academic knowledge with personal experience.
✓ Explore why having a sense of place inspires stewardship and sustainability.
✓ Bridge studies in the creative arts, history, natural history and social science
Includes presentation, hands-on interactive experiences and collaborative work. Customized for all age groups
Work with Erica: In your classroom or in-the-field.
Professional Development for Educators
Erica has been a repeat presenter at professional development seminars for educators, from the Walden Woods Project “Approaching Walden” Seminar to educators at the Teton Science School. Her customized programs help educators recharge their connection to themselves and their work, as well as gain practical tools they can apply to the classroom right away.
Reimagine your curriculum while getting a personal and professional recharge.
Prior Conferences and Seminars for Educators
Georgia Environmental Educators Conference
Massachusetts Environmental Education Society
New England Environmental Education Alliance
The Murie Center
Teton Science School
Prior Youth and Academic Programs:
Youth Leadership
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Trustees of Reservations
World Wide Walden Youth Summit, The Walden Woods Project
Wyoming Youth Congress on Children and Nature
Young Writers and Artists Festival, Hathaway Brown School
Youth Conservation Corps
Youth Leadership Academy, New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park
Academic
Undergraduate & Graduate
Antioch New England Graduate School, NH (Seminar)
Mount Holyoke College Center for the Environment
Paul Smiths College
Sterling College
Teton Science School
Washington University
K- 12
All Saints' Episcopal Day School
Four Rivers Charter School
Journeys School
Sterling Community School,
Thoreau Institute
Kind Words
"With its emphasis on integrating writing, music, and a sense of place, Erica's workshop was incredibly inspiring... [She] gave us all an invaluable opportunity to reflect on our connections to the land, our personal history, and our best selves." Faculty Director, University of Vermont, VT
“Erica has an impressive versatility. Her warm personality and knowledge of her subject matter gave our students a gift: she empowered them to express themselves and connect to the land in a way many of them had never experienced before." Margot Martin, Journeys School, (K-12) Jackson, WY
"Using Erica Wheeler's ideas, I developed writing prompts incorporating nature. These were some of the best writing prompts I have ever used. The students were excited, had vast amounts to write about, freely expressed their thoughts without fear of right or wrong, and made a connection to nature/place and themselves." Saratoga Elementary School, Saratoga, WY
"Erica magically turned each students poetry into a folk song which she sang beautifully and spontaneously in the classroom. Students were mesmerized by her talent and eagerly shared their creative writing in the class.” All Saints Episcopal Day School, Carmel, CA
Student Reflections:
"We learned valuable lessons about writing and poetry. I now feel inspired to write about things like nature. I truly appreciate the landscape around us.”
"I have a deeper connection to nature and my roots than I knew before."
"I will use what I have gained to continue making connections in my community and initiating a positive change."
"Your music inspired me to write. Your workshop allowed me to open my mind and put my feelings on paper. Your visit helped me realize the connection between nature, music and writing.”
Presentation, songs, interactive experiences, and writing/story process + support for sharing/creating stories. Erica begins with an inspiring program of place-based arts (song, story, visual art) to explore the connections between people and place, nature, history and culture. She then facilitates a discussion about how personal connections inspire stewardship, connection and belonging. Afterward, she leads students through a hands-on process to create, develop and share their own stories. Erica often creates a “song on the spot” by gathering insights and experiences from the students, which is a fun inspiring example for everyone to be a part of.