Join us for Retreat.js

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Gatlinburg, TN

Tired of over-crowded conference centers and sessions that don’t teach you the practical techniques you need? This November we’re introducing the world to the un-conference: an intimate training retreat in a beautiful setting, tailored to attendees, and focused on topics you want to cover.

  • It’s all about you: 2 full days of JavaScript training in small classes on topics you want to learn about.
  • In depth and hands-on: 4 daily training/lecture sessions each day plus lively discussion outside of the classroom.
  • Includes everything but airfare: 4 days/3 nights accommodations (an additional non-training day is optional) plus home-cooked organic meals & snacks each day.
  • A fantastic location: a luxury lodge in the middle of the Smoky Mountains during the peak of fall foliage.
  • Amazing extracurricular activities: movies, hiking, kayaking, etc. when you aren’t in class (and on the optional extra day).

Looking for a schedule or more info for selling your boss on the idea? Download the Fact Sheet.

Where You’ll Stay

This is about as far from industrial carpeting and folding chairs as you can get.

Our luxury lodge is located on the side of a mountain just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Equipped with a 4x8 foot theater screen, wireless internet, a hot tub, a pool table, a dartboard, a bar, and gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, it’s the perfect atmosphere to escape the daily grind and learn something new.

Each of the lodge’s twelve suites has a king-sized bed, private bathroom with a jacuzzi tub, and our own balcony so you can relax and relish your surroundings. You can even bring a guest for a small additional fee (to cover their meals).

In addition to filling your head with knowledge, we’ll also fill your tummy with tasty organic meals (and plenty of snacks for when you get peckish), all prepared in-house by our personal chef. And if you have dietary restrictions or preferences, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate and offer tasty choices.

Nestled in the Smokies: Gatlinburg, TN

A map showing the location of Gatlinburg, Tennessee
35°43′19″N 83°29′58″W

Located adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg boasts small town charm and world-class amenities.

In addition to fun and campy activities organized just for the retreat attendees at the lodge, you have museums, a nationally-recognized aquarium, outstanding eateries, fantastic attractions, outdoor activities and picturesque surroundings right at your doorstep.

Gatlinburg is also an ideal destination for eco-friendly vacations and travel. Recently partnering with the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the city’s residents and businesses are participating in the Gatlinburg Goes Green Initiative in an effort to stay environmentally responsible.

Learn What You Want

Our retreats are special for many reasons, but chief amongst them is that you’re in control: you pick the topics and we cover them in-depth.

On this retreat, Aaron Gustafson will be your guide through the often confusing world of JavaScript. He’s ready to tackle anything—language fundamentals, progressive enhancement and accessibility, working with jQuery, optimizing your code… whatever you want or need to know about JavaScript. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a seasoned programmer, you will come away with the knowledge you need to get the most out of the language.

A bit about your guide

Aaron has been working on the web for nearly 15 years and, in that time, has cultivated a love of web standards and an in-depth knowledge of website strategy and architecture, interface design, and numerous languages (including XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP). When not neck deep in code, Aaron is usually found evangelizing his findings and sharing his knowledge and passion with others in the field.

Aaron has trained professionals at The New York Times, Gartner, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (among others), and has presented at the world's foremost web conferences, such as An Event Apart and Web Directions. He is Group Manager of the Web Standards Project (WaSP) and serves as an Invited Expert to the World Wide Web Consortium’s Open Web Education Alliance (OWEA). He also serves as Technical Editor for A List Apart, is a contributing writer for .net Magazine, and has filled a small library with his technical writing and editing credits.

Looking for a schedule or more info for selling your boss on the idea? Download the Fact Sheet.