Enrich your Sense of PLACE
Training, keynotes, and creative experiences to
help people and places thrive
Erica Wheeler
Interpretive Trainer · Keynote Speaker ·Creative Mentor
Training:
Deliver Outstanding Visitor Experiences
Skill development for parks, museums, heritage sites, and mission-based organizations.
Keynotes:
Celebrate What Matters Together
Uplifting sense of place keynotes and performances for conferences and communities.
Classes and Events
Discover a Sense of Place and Belonging
Public events and programs designed to evoke stories of connection to yourself, your surroundings and each other.
“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’re looking for something more:
connection, meaning, and belonging.
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 can help us feel less disconnected from where we are and who we are. And these stories are always within reach.
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 an interpretive trainer, keynote speaker, and creative mentor. For over 15 years, I’ve worked as an interpretive trainer, helping the staff at parks, museums, and heritage sites across North America, including working with dozens of National Park Service sites. My method helps interpreters, educators, and leaders craft meaningful, place-centered experiences that leave an impact.
I also work with writers and creatives, helping them discover and shape personal stories of connection to place.
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.
“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 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