Staff photo by Bob Hammerstrom Nicknamed “the treehouse man” by 6-year-old Shawn Shaw, Eyrich Stauffer, a professional builder for Forever Young Treehouses, shows the youngster where the treehouse will be built in a wooded area at the Crotched Mountain treatment center in Greenfield. Shawn, a regular visitor to the construction work, is on his way back to his apartment at the center.

GREENFIELD – Fun will soon be taken to new heights at the Crotched Mountain treatment center for people with disabilities.

In honor of the center’s 50th anniversary, Crotched Mountain President Donald Shumway decided to build a treehouse on the campus that would be accessible to children with disabilities.

“Until now, the feelings of pure joy associated with climbing trees were unavailable to children with mobility impairments,” said Michael D. Redmond, vice president for advancement at Crotched Mountain.

Shumway said the children are anticipating the treehouse so much that many of them have been volunteering to help build them have been volunteering to help build it.

“I can’t wait to use the treehouse,” said Danny, 17, of Crotched Mountain School. “I cut down branches and carried wood to the truck when I worked on building the treehouse.”

The treehouse is being built in collaboration with Forever Young Treehouses of Burlington, Vt. The private, nonprofit organization, founded by Bill Allen, builds handicapped-accessible treehouses.

“Children need escape,” Allen said. “Climbing a tree is such a simple thing, but kids in wheelchairs get left out. An accessible treehouse enables them to do what we take for granted. This project just seems like something we ought to do.”

The treehouse has many specialized structures to accommodate disabled children. Features include a ramp that rises gradually 20 feet up from the ground. The ramp, which is 150 feet long, is designed to support wheelchairs.

Cables run from the platform to the tops of the trees. The cables allow the treehouse to gently sway from side to side, synchronized with the trees when the wind blows.

There are more than 40 children who attend Crotched Mountain School who use wheelchairs or other devices for mobility. Disabled children throughout New Hampshire also will be able to visit the treehouse. The group’s builders are ardently working with volunteers on the Crotched Mountain campus to construct the $100,000 treehouse.

“There has been a tremendous amount of planning that has gone into the construction of the treehouse,” said Eyrich Stauffer, professional builder for the group.

Builders say the treehouse is scheduled to be completed by Thanksgiving.

Officials say about $30,000 has been raised for the project to date. To donate to the project or for more information, call 547-3311, Ext. 409.

Katie Daly can be reached at 594-5860.