Campers to officially open Maine's only fully accessible treehouse at Pine Tree Camp
Ribbon cutting will take place Tues., June 17
Pine Tree campers Bradley Thibodeau of Carmel, Victoria Queally of Brunswick and Nicholas Alexander of Belgrade and are eagerly awaiting Tues., June 17. That is the day the three will gather at Pine Tree Camp in Rome to officially open Maine’s first fully accessible treehouse. The ceremony, beginning at 10 a.m., will represent the culmination of the hard work and support of Pine Tree campers, friends and volunteers whose commitment made the treehouse a reality.
Following the brief ceremony, Victoria, Nicholas and Bradley will, for the first time, be able to experience the wonder and pure joy of spending time in a real treehouse. Treehouses are magical places for children of all ages, but until now they've been places that aren't accessible for children with disabilities.
“Pine Tree Camp's treehouse is all about freedom and the joy of living,” said Anne Marsh executive director of Pine Tree Society. “We arethrilled that beginning June 17 children of all ages, no matter their disability will be able toexperience the fun and wonder of being in a treehouse high above the ground. I can't wait to see the smiles and hear thelaughter of our campers as they go up the ramp into the treehouse.”
The treehouse design is whimsical in nature, encompassing 1,000 square feet of land and featuring about 400 square feet of interior space. A winding ramp leads up to the structure making it completely accessible for everyone.
After about a year of planning, Pine Tree Society broke ground on the project in September 2007. Construction took about eight weeks and involved hundreds of volunteers from all corners of Maine.
Pine Tree Society worked in collaboration with Forever Young Treehouses of Burlington, Vermont, whose mission is to build an accessible treehouse in every state. In addition, Pine Tree Society worked closely with environmental, ecological, design and accessibility issues determined by architects, engineers and arborists to ensure that our treehouse will not damage any trees or the surrounding environment.
Pine Tree Camp’s treehouse was made possible with generous support from WBRC Architects l Engineers, FOX23, Roger and Theresa Thompson Endowment Fund, the Borman Family Foundation, Wal-Mart, Cianbro, Waterville Rotary Club, G & E Roofing, Plum Creek Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine.
Established in 1945, Pine Tree Camp offers Maine children and young adults with disabilities an extraordinary summer camp experience. The 285 acre camp is located on North Pond in Rome, Maine. The facility is fully adapted to meet the special needs of campers. The barrier-free setting and commitment of our staff allow campers to fully participate in activities that normally aren’t available to them including swimming, fishing, boating, outdoor games, kayaking, arts and crafts and even camping in a tent under the stars.
Pine Tree Society offers a full range of comprehensive and professional services designed to help Maine people with disabilities lead active, more socially connected lives. Our professionals deliver uniquely customized services in highly supportive environments. We share a spirit of innovation and desire to discover new ways to break down barriers that many find insurmountable. It started as a bold new idea in 1936. It continues every day throughout Maine.
To learn more about, please visit www.pinetreesociety.org or call (207) 443-3341.Click here to see more pictures of Pine Tree Camp's treehouse.
