Block off July 22nd and 23rd on your calendars -- Code Camp is returning to Portland! (The Portland metro area, that is.) After reviewing potential venues with Stuart (camp director) and Rich (head of PADNUG), we've opted to hold this second annual Code Camp at Washington State University in Vancouver.

Why Vancouver you ask? Besides the fact that there's quite a few developers across the river (and we do love you guys in the Couv!), the folks at WSU were very enthusiastic about Code Camp and doing what they could to help out. Just wait till you see this place... it's amazing. A gorgeous campus surrounded by trees, perfect views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood... it's like a retreat, and they have everything we need and more for a kickass Code Camp. Besides plenty of big classrooms with projectors, lots of free parking, and space outside for a barbeque, they have wireless onsite for everybody... even a frisbee golf course! Time to bust out the folf disc!

The thing I'm most excited about though is their open-air amphitheatre.  One point of feedback from last year was a lack of anything planned out for Saturday night. This time we'll have evening festivities onsite with food, music, and fun... it's going to be a blast.

Within the next week we should have a new web site up for Code Camp. I'll let you know as soon as it's up. We're shooting for automating most of the logistics stuff this time around so people can submit sessions online, pick sessions they're interested in, etc. Stay tuned.

One thing I'm looking for now is anyone of the developer persuasion with some musical talent. I'm hoping to model the evening's entertainment after the Code Camp in Fullerton this past January... have a local band come in and play a set, followed by a geek jam made up of Code Camp attendees. If you play an instrument (especially drums!) or sing and would like to belt out some tunes during Code Camp weekend, please email me.

It's campin' time!