Programs and Events for
Connecting People, Places, and Stories
Sense of Place Consulting offers community engagement programs for mission-based organizations, youth, and educators and, and all kinds of events.
Erica’s philosophy that finding personal stories of connection leads to caring, and ultimately stewardship actions— is at the heart of her work. Her mission of evoking personal connections to places to inspire caring and stewardship is woven throughout her programs. Her work leaves people uplifted and empowered to make choices that make a difference in their lives and the world around them.
““Particularly well suited for land trusts and other conservation organizations, as her art is intimately tied to the landscape and the sense of identity people derive from their surroundings.” ”
Bringing People Together Through Story and Place Connections
In an age where connection feels fleeting, creating meaningful community experiences has never been more essential. Erica Wheeler partners with organizations to design dynamic, place-centered events and programs that foster inclusion, belonging, and collective stewardship.
She often works with mission-based organizations that engage with the public, such as conservation and preservation organizations, land trusts, parks, and historic sites, as well as community-building groups and place-making organizations.
Erica can provide programs for:
General Public Events
Youth Leadership and Educator Training
Conferences, gatherings, and annual meetings.
Strong communities are built on shared stories, values, and connections to place. By offering events that celebrate the unique character of your community, Erica helps to:
Encourage a deeper appreciation for local history, culture, and landscapes.
Foster dialogue, understanding, and collaboration among diverse groups.
Inspire action and care for community and environmental well-being.
Erica has partnered with leading organizations to create impactful community events, including:
Smithsonian Affiliate Programs – Place-based storytelling workshops and keynotes.
National Park Service Sites – Community engagement and sense of place programs.
Regional Land Trusts – Events celebrating stewardship and place connection.
Local Libraries – Writing and creativity workshops.
For Organizations and Community Events
Bring Meaningful Engagement to Your Community. Offer a public program that evokes shared stories and creates lasting bonds between people and places.
Let Erica help you create a transformative event that connects people to place, history, and each other.
Signature Offerings
Sense of Place Story Workshops
Hands-on experiences that combine storytelling, creativity, and practical tools to engage audiences of all ages. Facilitate meaningful discussions where participants share personal and community stories, building connections across backgrounds and perspectives.Concerts and Performances
Inspiring, engaging talks featuring songs, stories, and insights that celebrate the power of place and shared heritage.Heritage and Stewardship Celebrations
Collaborative events that highlight local stories, landscapes, and resources, encouraging care and stewardship.Community Visioning Sessions
Guided sessions to explore community identity, values, and future aspirations through a sense of place lens.
Bring Erica to Your Community
Schedule a consultation to discuss your organization’s goals.
Choose a program format or customize your own.
Collaborate with Erica to design an unforgettable event for your community.
Contact Erica to get started or learn more about community engagement opportunities.
What Communities Are Saying:
"Erica's program brought us closer as a community. We left feeling inspired to care for our history and our future."
"Her ability to connect people through their personal stories is a gift. Everyone walked away with a sense of belonging."
"This event helped us see our community through fresh eyes. It was powerful and uplifting."
““Erica’s music takes the audience on a trip through space and time. The concert took me from the foothills of the Adirondacks to the Rocky Mountains where the aspens turn their golden color each Fall. When she paints a landscape with song, she strikes a chord that resonates at a deep emotional level. This powerful food for the soul moves people to question the conventions we use to value property – and to value themselves as stewards.””
For Youth Leadership Programs
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, youth leadership begins with self-awareness and connection—to themselves, others, and the places they call home. Erica Wheeler’s Sense of Place and Story Framework provides a foundation for youth to discover their sense of place, express their values, and lead with confidence and creativity.
Strong leaders know who they are and what they stand for. Erica’s programs help youth develop this awareness by exploring their unique sense of place and using it to connect with others and their environment. These skills foster empathy, inspire action, and build confidence in their ability to make a difference.
Erica’s Story to Stewardship Bootcamp equips youth with the tools they need to lead through self-discovery and connection through:
1. Creativity and Communication Skills : Youth learn to express themselves through storytelling, creative writing, and public speaking.
2. Teamwork and Collaboration: Engaging group activities that encourage cooperation and community-building.
3. Awareness and Stewardship: Interactive experiences highlight the importance of caring for natural and cultural resources.
4. Customized Experiences: Programs can be tailored for schools, organizations, or community groups, with options ranging from single-day workshops to multi-day residencies.
Erica has inspired youth across the country through partnerships with:
AmeriCorps (Vermont State Parks)
World Wide Walden Youth Summit (The Walden Woods Project)
Wyoming Youth Congress on Children and Nature
Youth Conservation Corps (Trustees of the Reservation)
Young Writers and Artists Festival (Hathaway Brown School)
Youth Leadership Academy (New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park)
Empower Youth with a Sense Purpose and Place:
Give the next generation of leaders the tools to connect, express, and lead with purpose.
How to Get Started
Contact Erica to discuss your needs and goals.
Choose the best program format for your group.
Schedule your event and start inspiring your youth leaders today!
Contact Erica to learn more or book your program.
What Youth Are Saying
"I learned that sense of place is different for everyone, people have different stories and backgrounds."
"This helped me see I’m a better writer than I thought—and how powerful it is to express my feelings."
"It cleansed my soul. I feel better."
For Community Concert and Workshops
““We invited Erica out for a week to help celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Big Sur Land Trust with a variety of events. Her positive impact reverberated throughout our community and continues to this day. Erica’s ability to connect people and place beautifully aligned with our mission to strengthen communities and inspire stewardship” ”
““When Erica Wheeler comes to town, her passion to give voice to this land and to stretch our hearts wide open is beyond inspiring. I believe we all come away craving an even deeper relationship with, and a renewed passion for our wilderness home. Erica is blessed with a life purpose that encourages us all to strengthen and “step up” our commitment to place. I know that after I’ve been with her, I am more keen, more grateful and more enlivened on my path as a proper steward of the land.” ”
““At the end of the 3- part writing prompt, I had enough material to write several powerful essays as well as a new idea for an inspirational card deck. If that wasn’t enough, Erica listened to what I wrote and in less than a minute had whipped up a terrific song. If anyone can rally the preservation troops to get “a sense of place” off the endangered species list, it’s Erica Wheeler.” ”
““If I had one word to describe Erica Wheeler’s Soulful Landscape workshop, it would be ‘magical.’ The workshop was a big ‘ah-ha’ moment. I am a conservation professional, and although I hadn’t put my finger on it until the workshop, I had been struggling with a sense of loss regarding my connection to nature that first inspired me to work in this field. The workshop rekindled that connection. I left with the tools and resolve to more intentionally tap into the power of place as well as the inspiration to help others do the same.” ”
“”Listening to ‘Good Summer Rain’ is like flipping through the photo album of an Ansel Adams road trip. Each artfully created song transports the listener to a particular location, like a snapshot in time.”
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