play a part in creating a sense of community for a photo sensitive child

Please take a moment to read our eligibility requirements before beginning your registration. If you have questions about the registration process, please email our team at info@sunescape.org

Eligibility Requirements

Every volunteer at Sun Escape has to be personally connected to the photo sensitive community

Those personal connections can include (but are not limited to):

  • Having a photo sensitive diagnosis

  • Being a parent or caregiver to someone with a diagnosis

  • Being a sibling or relative to someone with a diagnosis

  • Being a spouse, partner or in a relationship with someone who has a diagnosis

  • A medical professional in a related field

  • An advocate or member of an advocacy group in a related field

The medical conditions we serve include (but are not limited to):

  • Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)

  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XLP)

  • Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria (CEP)

  • Solar Urticaria

  • Polymorphic Light Eruption

  • Actinic prurigo (AP)

All volunteers must be at least 18 year old

At this current moment, only volunteers living in North America are eligible.

Volunteers must be socially, physically, and emotionally able and open to group activities and chaperoning families as big as 8 guests.

Volunteers must be socially, physically, and emotionally able and open to sharing a “cabin” with 2-4 other volunteers for their sleeping arrangement.

Not every volunteer will be assigned a family and some may be asked to split part of their time helping with specific program areas like arts and crafts.

Selection of Camp Volunteers

We would love to have every volunteer who applies be able to join us at Sun Escape, but space is limited.

All initial applications are reviewed and individually considered by representatives from Shadow Jumpers and The United Porphryias Association.

Sun Escape reserves the right to make selections and decisions based on factors deemed appropriate and in the best interest of camp itself. Applicants with a photosensitive diagnosis will be prioritized.

Volunteers who have been accepted will then be asked to apply and abide by the requirements set forth by Victory Junction in their application process. This includes a background check and up to date immunizations records (COVID 19 vaccine is not required)

2027 Application and Camp Timeline

  • November 10th through December 31st- Open application window

  • January 3rd - Volunteers are notified of their acceptance

  • January 3rd to January 31st - Open window to complete Victory Junction forms

  • January 6th - Victory Junction application training / Q&A video conference

  • January - Volunteers notified of their completed Victory Junction forms and immunization records on a rolling basis

  • March 1st - Deadline for volunteers who are flying to submit their booked airfare itinerary

  • April 1st - Camp programming guide, waivers, checklist, pre camp survey and assigned volunteer role sent via email

  • April 29th - May 2nd - SUN ESCAPE WEEKEND

  • May 9th - Travel expenses due.

  • May 10th to June 15th - Expected timeframe for reimbursement to be sent.

All dates except the start of camp are subject to change