I work from my home office so I'm making more of an effort to get out to any .Net developer event in the Raleigh, NC area. So far this year I have been to an MSDN event, started attending the Triangle .Net Users Group (TRINUG), and just last weekend went to a Code Camp.
This is the second Code Camp I've actually been to. Both of them in Raleigh; both put together by TRINUG.
Now I have to admit, when friends asked me what I'm doing on a Saturday and I said, "Code Camp", well you can imagine the responses I got. But really, how was I going to miss this Code Camp? I don't know how TRINUG did it, but it attracted 5 Microsoft Regional Directors, 11 Microsoft MVP's, plus over a half dozen other other speakers to present at Code Camp. What a lineup! And to top it off, Carl Franklin from .NET Rocks was the keynote speaker. AND the crew recorded an episode of dnrTV during lunch with special guest Migueal Castro. It was like a .Net nerd rock concert with all the big names in the house; all for free.
The day started at 7:30 am and lasted until about 6:15 with 6 tracks of 5 sessions plus lunch was provided. It was a great assembly of people sharing ideas and knowledge. I learned a few new things and met some great people. It was well worth my Saturday.
So these Code Camps are becoming popular and spring time seems to be a popular Camp date. Check with your local .Net users group if or when one is being held near you. Even if you have to travel, it's well worth the effort and expense because you will learn something and IT training ain't cheap these days!