Check the D1 contest pre-registration page at: http://www.ocmrc.us/NSRCAD1/nsrcaD1PreReg.html and note that there are several Pattern Primers being held. We do one or more of these each year and they work nicely. Mid-winter workshops or bootcamps sound interesting, but I guess the venue isn't as easy to manage in colder climates. It is something to look into further though.