Camp Sundown

Camp Sundown moon rainbow containing a faint reflected rainbow crossing the primary rainbow

Rafael at Camp Sundown

Camp Sundown is a night camp for children suffering from Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), a genetic disease that does not allow them to be exposed to sunlight. The camp was founded and is coordinated by Dan and Caren Mahar whose daughter Katie suffers from the disease. It is a camp whose activities take place between 9 at night and 5 in the morning with a volunteer staff. The children get to horseback ride, play ball, bounce on trampolines and swim. This year they got to help create and see a moon rainbow.

I had the opportunity to spend several days at the camp while preparing to execute the moon rainbow. My life will be forever changed by the experience.

The Stanfordville Volunteer Fire Department provided a fire truck and was the most enthusiastic group I ever worked with. On July 9, 1998, the 2nd night of camp we created a moon rainbow by pumping water from the camp pond into the air. The light of the full moon was refracted by the water to create the rainbow. The rainbow an almost ghost rainbow belongs to the families of, and to these courageous children of the night.

For more information on Camp Sundown and XP please visit XPS.