Philosophy and Approach
The Sense of Place and Story Framework
Finding Stories That Matter
My work is grounded in this simple idea:
Personal stories of connection to places inspires caring about places.
And right now, we need more people caring about more places.
“We cannot save what we do not love.”
— Stephen Jay Gould
Why it matters:
When we reclaim our stories of place, we don’t just preserve our past—we imagine a more connected and caring future and experience the present more fully.
In a time when many feel disconnected — from nature, from each other, from history and heritage — this work offers a way back: a time of greater disconnection—from nature, from each other, from history and heritage—this work offers a way back—to yourself, your surroundings, and your purpose.
I’ve created a framework that’s easy to implement.
Whether you’re an individual seeking to enrich your life or an organization seeking to inspire community engagement, this process can help you uncover stories that deepen the relationship between ourselves, our surroundings and our communities.
For Interpreters and Guides
Transform your approach to program design and delivery by crafting experiences that inspire genuine connection.
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For Community Organizations
Enrich your storytelling and bring your mission to life with programs that help people rediscover their own stories of place.
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For Individuals
Follow your creative path, find new sources of inspiration, and strengthen your writing, storytelling, and self-expression for your personal or professional work.
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Designed to Connect People and Place Through the Power of Story
The Sense of Place and Story Framework was created to help people discover and share stories that awaken a sense of connection, belonging, and stewardship.
The tools and practices I share have been honed through thousands of hours of in-the-field experience with writers, communities, educators, rangers, interpreters, and creative guides.
No matter the setting — a personal creative project, a National Park tour, or a community engagement program — the framework remains the same: A journey to find, craft, and share stories that matter.
The Sense of Place & Story Framework
A Four-Part Journey
Whether you're seeking professional development or a nourishing creative experience, this framework offers a step-by-step process for finding, creating, and sharing stories that make an impact.
1. FIND YOUR STORIES
The first step is to uncover stories inside you, reconnecting with your sense of place and belonging. In this quadrant, you’ll learn to find imagery and details in place-centered experiences. This will enrich your skills in story crafting, writing, and program design. Knowing your stories will be foundational for connecting others to their stories as well.
2. SEE THROUGH NEW EYES
The second step is to see the familiar through new eyes and explore the layers of stories that places hold. You’ll learn to see the nature, culture, and history of places from different perspectives. In this quadrant, you’ll develop the building blocks for the steps ahead.
3. CREATE MEANINGFUL STORIES
The third step is to reflect and integrate your knowledge and experience to find meaning so that you can craft stories of connection. In this quadrant, you will develop your ideas into compelling stories, programs, and other forms of communication. These can be used to enrich your own sense of place connections or to deliver experiences that engage visitors, supporters, and communities.
4. HONE YOUR TECHNIQUES
The fourth step is to polish your work and hone your skills in storytelling, program design and delivery. In this quadrant, you will practice techniques for sharing stories and offering well-balanced programs that resonate with diverse audiences.
Background: My Journey to This Work
I began my work around sense of place when I was an undergrad at Hampshire College. It’s there I saw clearly how stories could impact the future of places — often more powerfully than facts alone.
I entered college to study wildlife biology but followed the call of story instead, becoming a touring singer-songwriter whose songs were rooted in a deep sense of place.
As I traveled, I often fell in love with landscapes — only to return later and find them changed or lost. I began to wonder: Did others notice? Did they care? I knew that everyone carries stories about connections to places within them, they just needed to be remembered and revealed. Helping people uncover those stories became the heart of my Sense of Place and Story work.
In 2008, I released Good Summer Rain in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, and began leading performances and workshops that evoked powerful place-based memories and meaning.
Since then, I’ve worked with parks, museums, historic sites, and communities, helping individuals and groups deepen engagement, awaken belonging, and inspire stewardship through the power of story.
What I know for sure…
Personal stories of place can transform how we see ourselves, each other, and the world around us.
That’s the heart of my work — helping people reconnect with meaning, belonging, and purpose through the places that shape them, so that people and places can thrive.
Let’s Work Together
We can schedule a call to learn more about each other, discuss your priorities, and explore what might be the best fit for your needs. Reach out and we can find a good time to set up a call or Zoom, or book a slot on my calendar.