The FIRST Roanoke Code Camp (there will definitely be more!) exceeded any expectation I could have imagined. The top four ways to attend code camp are:
- As an ATTENDEE: You'll learn a lot, meet other attendees, meet presenters and if you want to know more about a presentation just ask. Stop any presenter (except on the way to lunch) and you'll get one-on-one exchange.
- As a VOLUNTEER: You will get all of the benefits of the attendee PLUS even more time hanging with the presenters and other volunteers, giving you even more knowledge and fun. I attended a Code Camp in Reston and knew only one person. As a volunteer I met several folks with whom I still correspond AND get to see at Code Camps in other cities.
- As a SPEAKER: You will get all of the benefits of the attendee and the volunteer PLUS an opportunity to really really learn a topic. Trust me, if you want to learn something well, agree to do a presentation. Not only will you learn a lot doing research, you'll learn a lot fixing your code when you make "one last change" the night before Code Camp. But never fear, you have a great pool of resources in the other speakers to help you out. I thought Code Camp was great as a volunteer, but it got even better as a presenter. The other speakers are not only knowledgable, they are great people. You will definitely see them again at Code Camps in other cities.
- As a ORGANIZER: Yes, you will get all of the benefits above plus more, but there is nothing like seeing it actually happen. (There's a good chance you won't notice it coming together the week before). As an organizer you will see first-hand the commitment and dedication of many types of people (from the weekend hobbyist to the 80-hour low-level coder). Even more, you will see a great desire to share the enthusiasm they have for technology.
THANK YOU: To everyone that presented, volunteered, attended, contributed and encouraged (many of you from a long distance away). There were 98 registered and 85 attended - 85% showed!
Yeah, I could easily become a Code Camp Junkie! If you haven't tried one, you're missing out.
See the presentations and slide decks from Roanoke Code Camp here and see photos here