
Sense of Place and the Art of Interpretation
Skill-building training to design and deliver outstanding programs
Erica’s signature training is now available online. Register with the National Association for Interpretation for this special offer with a limited number of participants. This course will help you recharge your skills and rethink your interpretive approach through a dynamic blend of narrative skill-building, creativity, and hands-on practices.
During this six-week, 18-hour course, you’ll engage in creative strategies for designing well-balanced experiences and deepen your ability to connect people to place. Through discussions, implementation activities, and small group work, you'll build a personalized toolkit and leave with a ready-to-use interpretive program that reflects your renewed perspective.
Registration open until September 1. Limited to 20.
Sense of Place and the Art of Interpretation 6-Week Online Training
Through National Association for Interpretation
18 CE Credits.
Cohort begins September 9, 2025.
Programs that connect with meaning, relevance, and heart is more essential than ever.
For parks, museums, heritage sites, and mission-driven organizations that connect people to nature, history, culture, and place. Whether on-boarding seasonal staff, revitalizing your team, or supporting volunteers from other divisions, this training meets you where you are.
Sense of Place and the Art of Interpretation is a field-tested, narrative and technique-focused, place-centered approach that helps interpreters of all experience levels deliver powerful, inclusive, and engaging programs for today’s visitors.
Grounded in creative solutions and connection
Interpretive staff need more than knowledge or a single approach—they need flexible, nimble tools for relevance and inclusion. Sense of Place and the Art of Interpretation Training helps participants:
Revitalize and enhance existing programs.
Re-frame foundational skills with a fresh lens.
Apply inclusive strategies to deepen visitor engagement.
Practice storytelling with clarity and presence.
Connect personally to purpose, mission, and place.
Spark creativity, confidence, and well-being.
Cultivate team cohesion and creative momentum.
Going well beyond standard interpretive techniques, the training transforms how your team thinks about engaging visitors by using a sense of place-making perspective.
The core training consists of six modules, which are included in a comprehensive three-day and a online six-week training, and are offered as individual modules, or as shorter time sessions, with a specific focus as determined by needs. Modules include: Introduction to Sense of Place Interpretation; Rethinking Interpretive Foundations; Foundational Skills; The Technique Toolkit; Craft Sense of Place Narratives; Well-Balanced Visitor Experiences; and Five Essential Tools for Program Arcs.
Inquire to join a scheduled cohort or to engage Erica to work with your team.
Training offers
Multi-day training
7-, 14-, and 21-hour formats
Onsite or Online
Ideal for teams to elevate quality and cohesion.
Contact Erica for details on what is included in each time frame option.
Six-Week online training
20 hours, 3-hour weekly format, plus open office hours
Online
Ideal for individuals, cohorts, or dispersed teams needing a flexible training schedule.
Individual module training
Three-hour intensives to 6-hour classes
Onsite or Online
Ideal for sites with limited time or budget who want to train staff, elevate skills, and recharge.
I used to DREAD the outline process. I would be stuck in the muck for days. Erica has given me the boots I need for this terrain! I will definitely use the tools/techniques and am inspired to create great visitor experiences. Thank you for the gift of this outstanding training.
Sitka NHP, AK
Framework and approach
Knowledge of Self
Find stories and gain foundational skills in authentic storytelling, program design, and delivery grounded in meaning, purpose and relevance.
Knowledge of Resource
Explore your what you interpret from a fresh perspective and gain a process and techniques communicating factual, complex narratives, with confidence and ease.
Craft of Meaning Making
Turn your knowledge, ideas and techniques into engaging stories and program arcs that will resonate with different visitors and naturally evoke meaningful connections.
Craft of Engagement
Bring together all you have gained to craft balanced visitor experiences that blend content and experiences with honed and polished techniques.
Acadia NP
Adams NHP
Assateague Island NS
Bandelier NM
Big Thicket NP
Cape Cod NP
Denali National Park and Preserve
Everglades NP
Fredrick Law Olmsted NHS
Ft. Stanwix NHS
Gateway NRA
Governors Island NM
Prior trainings
National Park Service Sites
Niagara Falls National Heritage Area
Organ Pipe Cactus NM
Petrified Forest NP
Salem Maritime NHS
Saint Gaudens NHS
Sagamore Hill NHS
Saugus Iron Mill NHS
Springfield Armory NHS
White Sands NM
Women's Rights NHP
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Yosemite NP
Grant-Khors NHS
Great Sands NP
Great Smokies NP
Hawai’i Volcanoes NP
John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS
Hopewell Furnace NHSHot Springs NP
Independence NHP
Marsh Billings Rockefeller NH
Mesa Verde NP
National Mall and Memorial Parks
-
This training goes beyond standard interpretive techniques—it transforms how your team thinks about engaging visitors by using a sense of place-making perspective. Participants gain a new way of thinking about program design, meaningful narratives, and working as a cohesive team.
I bring a blend of in-the-field expertise from working with 45+ NPS sites, plus my background in performing arts and creative process to provide a framework of proven tools and opportunities to rethink interpretation and storytelling.
EACH TRAINING IS:
Customized for Your Site – Tailored to fit your unique needs, ensuring immediate, practical application. Erica’s fee includes site research to ensure training concepts link to site themes and stories.
Inclusive & Innovative – Helps to craft programs that engage visitors with different learning styles through a fresh, creative lens.
Skill-Based & Practical – Provides tangible tools and techniques for delivering compelling, balanced visitor experiences.
Grounded in the Power of Place— Each training emphasizes using stories and techniques to connect people with the unique power of your place.
INTERPRETERS OF ALL LEVELS WILL EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS:
Skill-Building for All Levels – Developing authentic, well-crafted, inclusive programs requires practice. This training provides in-depth support for interpreters at all experience levels, ensuring they can confidently share complex stories in a concise, engaging way.
Adaptable for Different Learning Styles – A creative, supportive approach helps interpreters identify and refine their most effective techniques while developing new skills to meet performance standards.
Fosters a Cohesive Team – Through participatory learning, brainstorming, and collaboration, this training strengthens team dynamics and fosters long-term professional growth.
-
I’m an experienced interpretive trainer, keynote speaker and creative mentor. With a background in the performing arts, and conservation advocacy, I’ve worked directly for over a decade with parks, museums, historic sites, land trusts, community organizations, and more. I’m also an award-winning songwriter and a keynote speaker who has delivered keynotes at Governor’s Conferences on Tourism and many national events.
My approach to interpretation bridges creative thinking with practical tools, and a sense of place lens to inspire fresh program ideas that elevate interpreters and interpretation, and resonate with visitors, fostering meaningful connections between people and place.
-
Fees and Formats:
Option One: Full or Multi-Day Training. Available onsite or live online. Includes up to 20 participants.
1-Day (7 hours): $3,500 + travel
2-Day (14 hours): $4,500 + travel (includes 1:1 coaching)
3-Day (21 hours): $5,500 + travel (includes 1:1 coaching)
Option Two: Six-Week Online Training 20-hour course delivered live online over six weeks. Includes up to 20 participants.
For Groups: Flat fee of $5,500
Add-on: 1:1 Coaching Package AvailableFor Individuals (Join a Cohort): $550 per person
Minimum of 5 participants required to run a cohort
Add-on: 1:1 Coaching Session AvailableOption Three: Individual Module Training Available onsite or live online. Flexible participant number. Call to discuss.
90-minute Introductory Session: $750
3-Hour Module: $1,500
4-Hour Module: $2,000
6-Hour Masterclass: $3,000 (Can be run in 2 3-hour sessions)Interested in joining a cohort?
Set up a call with Erica to learn more -
Payment:
I’m a registered independent contractor with the Federal Government and in the SAM system. I accept checks, direct deposits, and credit cards (with a 3% processing fee.)Travel Expenses:
The standard government rates apply for travel, meals and lodging, and can provide a detailed estimate upon request. I fly out of Hartford, CT. Rates can be reduced if I am already in your region.Formats:
Training can be offered for consecutive days onsite. Formats can be adapted to meet your staff and training needs. A minimum of 6 participants is required. Some parks opt to hire me for multiple consecutive days, so everyone can attend. Parks with a large staff can do a presentation style training with more group work and limited 1:1 time with the instructor. Other sites might include all their interpreters, interns, volunteers, partners, and other divisions such as resources, curatorial, and fees.Sense of Place Consulting is a Woman Owned Small Business.
I am committed to helping individuals show up fully as who they are, and meeting people wherever they are on their learning journey. I am known for my down-to-earth, welcoming and inclusive facilitation skills.