site set-up

I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to solve a problem I've been experiencing with a Drupal 7 multisite installation. I've searched frantically over the last while and I was hoping that perhaps someone has solved the issue I'm having. I found some very relevant discussions and information and there does not appear to be any solution contained in them.

See the following:

• https://drupal.org/documentation/install/multi-site#symlink
• https://groups.drupal.org/node/20604
• https://groups.drupal.org/node/267198

For the Drupal sites I am working on I have a setup using three different stages:

1. R&D site - This one is for both testing contributed modules and my own development.
2. Staging - A virtual copy of the live site to make sure that the things from the R&D site will work. Also used for testing updates/upgrades to core and contributed modules before they go live.
3. Live site - Simply the live public site where all ends up after passing the two above.

I'd like to plan a workshop / code sprint within the next month in Los Angeles. I have a couple ideas on what we could tackle as a group, but am open to suggestions.

I'd like to accomplish two things in this session

1. Help mentor new developers teaching Drupal best practices and guidance in establishing/enhancing a good Drupal / LAMP development environments.
2. Create a new module from scratch - OR - fix a contrib module.