{"id":40969,"date":"2022-10-17T15:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=40969"},"modified":"2022-10-11T17:32:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-11T15:32:02","slug":"what-is-wordcamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-wordcamp\/","title":{"rendered":"What is WordCamp and How to Get In"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WordPress started off as a blogging platform, built on the principle of openness. This meant that its first users were also its developers, and the other way around. Over time, <strong>WordPress grew into what it is today<\/strong>: the most popular content management system in the world. Close to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/wordpress-powers-39-5-of-all-websites\/391647\/#close\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">40% of all websites are powered by WordPress<\/a>, and over 60% of websites that use a CMS. And the community aspect? It is maintained through WordCamp. And you, too, can be a part of all of that.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In this article, we will be discussing <strong>WordCamp, the official WordPress conference<\/strong>: what it is, how to take part in one, what goes on there, and whether or not you can join one. Here\u2018s what we\u2018d like to talk to you about:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#what-is-wordcamp\">What is WordCamp<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#what-happens-at-wordcamp\">What Happens at a WordCamp<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-to-find-wordcamp\">How to Find a WordCamp<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-to-participate-in-wordcamp\">How to Participate in a WordCamp<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-top-picks-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"what-is-wordcamp\"><\/a>What is WordCamp<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]To say that WordCamp is <strong>an official WordPress conference<\/strong> is an exaggeration. Like WordPress itself, WordCamp is community-run and organized, with the first one happening in San Francisco all the way back in 2006. Since then, WordCamps have been paid for and organized by volunteers the world over, building the community of developers, amateurs, casual users, and bloggers over the years. WordCamps are often indispensable for budding developers wanting to connect and network.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This doesn\u2018t mean that just about any gathering of people mildly interested in WordPress deserves the name, though: to be affiliated with the WordPress Foundation, <strong>a WordCamp needs to adhere to the principles of WordPress and the guidelines and standards<\/strong> published by the WordPress Foundation. Such standards are too extensive to outline here, but they range from how much of the programming must be devoted to WordPress (at least 80%), through ticket prices (USD 25 maximum), right down to the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-properly-use-wordpress-logo\/\">correct use of the WordPress logo<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The exact details can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/central.wordcamp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordCamp website<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"what-happens-at-wordcamp\"><\/a>What Happens at a WordCamp<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Generally, whatever the organizers organize, happens. A WordCamp will <strong>typically include talks, panel discussions, and presentations<\/strong> on various WordPress-related subjects. These can involve very technical issues, but are not limited to those: remember, up to 20% of the programming can be devoted to topics other than WordPress. You could end up learning a great deal about design aesthetics or market trends, for instance. This makes these talks a good place to learn more about the local web development community in general.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Lecture-type events are called <strong>presentations<\/strong> when lasting up to 60 minutes, and <strong>lightning presentations<\/strong> when delivered in 10- to 15-minute chunks. <strong>Panel discussions<\/strong> are a format of talks where multiple speakers discuss a single topic.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Organizers often include <strong>workshops<\/strong> in the programming, which may again range from the very technical to the very basic. Workshops typically last 60 to 90 minutes and concentrate on the hands-on aspects of development. You may learn about the technicalities of WordPress functionalities, or how best to perform a particular task.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]A lot of WordCamps also set up <strong>job boards<\/strong>, so attendees can post job offers, exchange contacts, or meet with recruiters.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Other programming may include <strong>social events<\/strong>. These may take the shape of structured meetings or informal drinks, talks, lunches and other activities, but they may also be an opportunity to introduce yourself to a recruiter, meet a new client, or even find a new business partner.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So, if you plan on attending, take a careful look at the schedule and the requirements, if appropriate. No use showing up to a workshop without a laptop, or to a meeting with a recruiter without a CV or portfolio.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-to-find-wordcamp\"><\/a>How to Find a WordCamp<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Finding a WordCamp near you (or anywhere, really) is easy. In fact, there are several ways to do so.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Official WordCamps (i. e. those affiliated with WordPress) can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/central.wordcamp.org\/schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Schedule<\/a> page of the <strong>WordCamp Central website<\/strong>. There, you can see the dates and locations of all the WordCamps which have been confirmed for up to a year in advance, as well as those WordCamps which are still in the early stages of planning and organization.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Clicking on each one will take you to its own website, with more details on the programming, schedule, volunteer opportunities, and other important details.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Another way of finding a WordCamp is from your very own WordPress dashboard (assuming you are a WordPress user, which we assume you are). On your <strong>Dashboard\/Home<\/strong> screen, you can see the <strong>WordPress Events and News<\/strong> widget. In it, you can find links for upcoming events.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/WordPress-Events-and-News.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"WordPress Events and News\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/WordPress-Events-and-News.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/WordPress-Events-and-News-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/WordPress-Events-and-News-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/WordPress-Events-and-News-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can also follow the official <a href=\"https:\/\/central.wordcamp.org\/news\/2013\/12\/rss-feed-now-available-for-newly-announced-wordcamps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RSS feed for announced WordCamps<\/a> or download the <a href=\"https:\/\/central.wordcamp.org\/calendar.ics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ICS Calendar<\/a> (a universal form of calendar files) or the <a href=\"https:\/\/central.wordcamp.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wordcamps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JSON API<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-to-participate-in-wordcamp\"><\/a>How to Participate in a WordCamp<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You can participate in a WordCamp as you would in any conference: <strong>pay the ticket price<\/strong> and attend however many events you can fit into your schedule. This may also involve travel and lodging costs, and may not be for everyone. However, given how WordCamps are community events, they often rely on volunteers. If there is a WordCamp near you, there will likely be <strong>opportunities to volunteer<\/strong>, especially for local people.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Of course, you can<strong> participate as an organizer<\/strong> or a speaker if you are an established authority in a certain area pertaining to WordPress. However, if you already are an established authority, you likely already know that.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But, even if you cannot participate in a WordCamp in your physical form, fret not: you can still<strong> experience it vicariously<\/strong> through <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.tv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress.tv<\/a>. WordPress.tv is a repository of WordPress-related videos moderated by the WordPress.org community. It contains a great wealth of videos on a variety of topics, from the very general to the very specific.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Including, of course, <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.tv\/category\/wordcamptv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">videos from WordCamps<\/a>. So, even if you miss an event \u2013 or even, due to overlap, a single presentation or a panel you\u2018d have very much liked to attend \u2013 there will likely be a way to make up for it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">In Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]WordPress is software, but the WordPress community is people. As a WordPress developer or designer, you are already participating in the global community. WordCamps, being community-run and organized, are what organizers make them be, but it cannot be denied that they can be a great opportunity to learn and grow as a developer, as well as to make contacts in the community and the industry in general.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interested in participating in the WordPress community? Find a WordCamp near you &#8211; we will show you how it&#8217;s done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16990,"featured_media":40980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[319,318,317],"class_list":["post-40969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resources","tag-community","tag-meetup","tag-wordcamp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16990"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40969"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40969\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}