Design and Deliver Outstanding Visitor Programs
Gain tools and skills to elevate your engagement techniques, content development, storytelling formats and program arcs.
NEW! The National Association for Interpretation is hosting a 6-week online training with Erica this fall! This course will help you rethink your interpretive approach and hone your skills through a dynamic blend of practical and creative tools for crafting engaging programs. 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.
Sense of Place and the Art of Interpretation 6-Week Online Training
Registration is open until September 1st. (Limited to 20)
Cohort begins September 9, 2025.
18 CE Credits and Certification of Completion.
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 that meet the needs of this moment.
Sense of Place and the Art of Interpretation Training helps participants:
✓ Revitalize and enhance existing programs.
✓ Reframe 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 beyond standard interpretive frameworks and formulas, this training transforms how your team thinks about engaging visitors by using a sense of place-making perspective. For all levels of experience and all kinds of sites.
The core training consists of six modules, which are included in a comprehensive three-day and an online six-week training. In addition to the full-training format, individual module training or one, two and multi-day formats are available.
Core Modules include:
Introduction to Sense of Place Interpretation
Rethinking Interpretive Foundations
The Art of Sense of Place Storytelling
Inclusive Engagement Technique Toolkit
Narratives and Sequencing
The Well-Balanced Visitor Experience
Mastering the Art of Program Arcs
Inquire to join a scheduled cohort or to engage Erica to work with your team.
Training formats
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
Multi-Day Training
Onsite or Online
Ideal for teams to elevate quality and cohesion.
Contact Erica for a detailed outline of what is included in the 1-day, 2-day and 3-day formats.
Six-Week Training
Online
Ideal for individuals, cohorts, or dispersed teams needing a flexible training schedule.
20 hours, 3-hour weekly format, plus open office hours
Module Training
Onsite or Online
Ideal for sites with limited time or budget who want to train staff, elevate skills, and recharge.
Three-hour intensives to 6-hour classes
With everyone, from our permanent to seasonal rangers, I noticed changes right away. After the training, they had adjusted the structure of their program and had a clearer theme. They seemed to have found their focus and grew from there.
Women’s Rights NHP, NY
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 NPS 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
Re-energizing for even the most seasoned staff.
Fort Stanwix NHS, N
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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.
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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.
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OPTION ONE: Individual Module Training Available onsite or live online. Flexible participant number. Call to discuss.
Please write for rates and program outlines.90-minute Introductory Session
3-Hour Module
4-Hour Module
6-Hour Masterclass (Can be run in 2 3-hour sessions)OPTION TWO: Full-Day to Multi-Day Training. Available onsite or live online. Includes up to 20 participants online or 25+ onsite.
1-Day (7 hours)
2-Day (14 hours)
(Includes 1:1 coaching)3-Day (21 hours)
(Includes 1:1 coaching)OPTIONS THREE: Six-Week Online Training 20-hour course delivered live online over six weeks. Includes up to 20 participants.
For Groups: Flat fee.
Add-on: 1:1 Coaching Package AvailableABOUT COHORTS
For Individuals (Join a Cohort): $550 per person
Minimum of 5 participants required to run a cohort
Add-on: 1:1 Coaching Session AvailableInterested 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.