Sense of Place Keynotes
An inspirational journey through song, story, and conversation
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If you're looking for a program that is more than another lecture or PowerPoint, you've come to the right place.
Erica Wheeler takes audiences on a journey through song, story, and conversation—evoking a sense of place that connects people to their surroundings and the work they do.
Through her keynotes, attendees gain practical tools and access to what inspires them most, recharging their capacity to do meaningful work in the world
When your audience needs more than motivation or another set of tactics, this is the keynote for you.
Erica’s keynotes help people pause, remember what matters, and return to their work with renewed clarity and purpose.
Whether your event centers on tourism, education, interpretation, conservation, heritage, or well-being, these keynotes bring the heart of the work back into view.
“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
Signature Keynote
The Sense of Place and Story Keynote
An experience that helps you remember what you care about most—and renews your capacity to inspire others.
More than a talk, this is a journey. Through song, story, and guided reflection, you'll access your own sense of place connections, share them with others in the room, and discover practical tools to create this kind of meaning-making in the communities you serve.
This keynote works for any audience—from conservation to tourism to community gatherings—because it activates something universal: our human connection to place and the stories that sustain us.
Looking for an industry- themed keynote? Explore four keynote options below.
National Association of State Park Directors Conference Keynote
Keynotes for your needs
Tourism Keynote:
Journey Marketing
Rethinking Tourism Narratives
Wellness Keynote: Place Medicine
Living Well with a Sense of Place
Transform a narrative of disconnect into one of deep connection by recalling place-centered stories from our past or in the present. Increase belonging and well-being in a disconnected world.
Ideal For: General public, wellness lifestyle events, retreat centers, and community health organizations
Make a shift from marketing destinations to marketing the journey a visitor takes to discover authentic connections in themselves and their surroundings. Discover how everyone is a place storyteller.
Ideal For: Tourism conferences, DMOs, heritage tourism events, destination marketing organizations
Heritage Keynote:
From Facts to Feeling Sharing the Heart
of the Matter
Elevate how you share history by finding the sense of place story at the heart of your research. Increase relevance through balanced story techniques.
Ideal For: History conferences, interpreters, museum professionals, historical societies, heritage organizations
Stewardship Keynote:
Places Matter
Sustaining the Heart
of Preservation Work
Reconnect to the heart of why our work continues to matter, especially during challenging times. Gain tools to recharge and renew your capacity to stay inspired and inspire others through finding and sharing sense of place stories.
Ideal For: Land trusts, conservation organizations, parks, environmental education, heritage preservation, stewardship organizations
About Erica Wheeler
TEDx speaker, interpretive trainer, award-winning songwriter, and creative mentor Erica Wheeler has spent decades bringing people and places together through story, song, and place-centered experience.
She has been a featured keynote at conferences, parks, museums, tourism organizations, and community gatherings across North America.
Known for her warmth, humor, and insight, Erica’s keynotes blend artistry with grounded perspective—helping audiences reconnect with purpose, place, and what matters most in their work.
Erica’s work is dedicated to cultivating meaningful connections between people and place, so that both people and places can thrive.
Selected Appearances
Governor's Conferences on Tourism (Arkansas, New Mexico, Wisconsin) · National Association for Interpretation (Annual Workshop & Regions) · National Association of State Park Directors · National Park Service (Founders Day, National Mall) · TEDx · American Horticultural Society Youth & Garden Symposium · Maryland Land Trust Alliance · Parks Ontario · New Mexico Council on Aging Conference
Bring a Sense of Place Keynote to Your Event
If you're planning an event and want a keynote that feels deeply aligned with a sense of place and purpose, let's explore what might serve your audience best.
Each keynote is shaped with care—responsive to your theme, your people, and the moment you're creating.
Investment: Contact for pricing based on event location, format, and scope. Starting at $3,500 for regional and national events. Travel costs are additional.
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