Spend a full day learning how to facilitate Friday Night at the ER programs and leave certified. You will start by experiencing the game as a participant, then learn everything you need to plan, lead and debrief game programs for your own groups.

Upcoming Workshops

Oct 8, 2026 in Portland, OR

Friday Night at the ER Facilitator Training + Certification

Price: $525 standard / $295 academic

*Stay Oct 9 for free certification in METALOG Tools (details below)

Hear from a recent participant about what to expect.

Want to host a public workshop? Get free seats and an on-site workshop in exchange for hosting.

Contact us to learn more and see if you qualify.

FNER Workshop Agenda

Hotel Options: We recommend Embassy Suites Portland Airport Hotel or Edgefield Hotel in Troutdale.

Airport: Portland International Airport (PDX) is a short drive from the workshop.

The workshop will take place at the Portland campus of Linfield University.

The address is 2900 NE 132nd Ave Portland, Oregon 97230. The workshop will be in building four.

There is free parking on site.

This activity will be submitted to Oregon Nurses Association for approval to award up to 9.0 contact hours. Oregon Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Fall Facilitator Training + Certification

Oct 8, 2026 (Portland, OR)

Join us in Portland Thursday, Oct 8 for a full day of hands-on facilitator training and certification. In this highly engaging, experiential workshop, you will participate in a Friday Night at the ER program led by an expert and learn how to use the tool effectively to create a meaningful experience for your groups.

Silos are one of the most common and costly challenges in an organization. Yet silos aren’t caused by poor communication or uncooperative people. We naturally focus on our part of the organization instead of the organization as a whole.

In this demo and training, you will learn three strategies rooted in systems thinking to improve organizational performance — collaboration, innovation and data-driven decision making. You will also learn how to navigate the hidden forces that drive behavior and limit performance. Join us to:

  • Discover what really causes silos to form in organizations and where we go wrong when trying to manage complexity.
  • Explore three practical strategies for applying systems thinking to improve performance across the whole organization, not just the parts.
  • Learn how to identify, navigate and reshape the structural forces that drive behavior and limit performance.
  • Gain practical tools and frameworks to help teams move from siloed thinking to systems thinking.

Stay for free METALOG Certification Oct 9

When you register for the Oct 8 session, you are invited to stay the next day (Friday, Oct 9) and get certified to use METALOG Tools for free. Same room, same hours, second certification.

METALOG Tools are highly interactive, experiential learning activities that teach teamwork, leadership, communication, and more than a dozen other topics. Thousands of facilitators and educators worldwide have been using METALOG Tools for more than 30 years.

In this full-day session, you will get hands on with some of our favorites from a catalog of 30 tools and learn the method for captivating groups and turning insights into action.

What People Say About Our Workshops

“I can’t remember the last time I was in a room with a single facilitator for six hours and was engaged the entire time. The game itself was fun, but the robust group discussion that followed was where the magic happened. Everyone in the room contributed to the meaning-making process; our facilitator truly facilitated our learning as we did the heavy lifting of connecting the dots. It was one of the most memorable learning experiences I’ve had in my professional life – I continued to unveil to insights on my own for days afterwards.”

Kelly Lisy, Senior Professional, Organizational Development & Learning, University Hospitals Cleveland

“My experience was great overall. Every question I had was answered in a way that will help me become a better facilitator. The timing, delivery, and product play were excellent, and I know I’ll retain the information much longer than from most workshops I’ve attended. Thank you for a wonderful learning experience and for sharing the great gift of systems thinking.”

Simon J Lee, Human Resources Director, H MART (Grand BK)

“Jeff did an exceptional job of explaining the simulation and provided enough feedback to encourage discussion amongst the group. It was a well-organized event, with just enough information without getting stuck in the weeds.”

Doug Lane, Southwest Region Deputy Regional Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

“It was really helpful to learn best practices as well as tips and tricks from an experienced facilitator. I definitely will be able to use “Friday Night in the ER” to a greater potential than if I had not attended this workshop!”

Julie Elsigan, Clinical Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies, St. Bonaventure University