I would be, even more so if there was an active forum/irc channel.

In fact I just finished a C Programming course at a state university. After talking with the professor I decided to continue on myself with a C++ book (to be determined), and a Linux Kernel book, [Understanding the Linux Kernel](http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596000028.do).

Finding a group of people of a similar skill level willing to do this type of learning would be fantastic.