MOOSEHEART - You might think that an actor whose most popular network show ended its run more than a quarter-century ago might have trouble relating with today’s schoolchildren.

And in many cases, that would likely be true.

But from the moment Erik Estrada started speaking to the middle school and high school students at Mooseheart on Friday, he struck common ground. And he made a firm connection with Mooseheart’s students, who had clearly done their homework and knew who the star of the 1977-83 NBC show "CHiPS" was, and other things he had stood for and accomplished. So when Estrada was done talking, those students had the star sign everything from papers to shirt backs to a yearbook and even one girl’s arm.

But this wasn’t just a publicity tour or a chance for Estrada -- a member of the Moose himself -- to cash in on star power. He came to deliver a message about his passion for securing the safety of children who use the Internet, from those who prey on such innocents.

“This is my passion in life now, to get this done,” Estrada said. He noted that his first passion had been "to be a cop. Then I got bit by the acting bug, and that became my second passion. Then I got to play a cop, and then I became a cop. Now the bullseye after coming full circle is this, to get Internet safety education done.”

Estrada came to Mooseheart at the start of Homecoming weekend along with Gary W. Reynolds Ph.D, Executive Director of Bedford, VA-based Safe Surfin’ Foundation. Safe Surfin’ is an organization which aims to spread the need for education about Internet safety to schools and also to get states to enact legislation mandating such education. Safe Surfin’ is one of two organizations -- Special Olympics is the other -- which are sponsored by the Fraternal Programs Department of the Loyal Order of Moose.

Estrada made a connection with the Mooseheart students by telling them his compelling life story. He grew up in New York City, the son of a heroin-addict father and a mother who kicked that man out of her life. He told of his drive to become a police officer, and of his journey instead into acting. But after starring in "CHiPs" from 1977-83 and in numerous other shows and feature films, Estrada returned to his original dream. He is now a reserve officer in the Muncie, IN Police Department.

And as part of his coming full-circle to his original dream of being a police officer, Estrada found out about Safe Surfin’.

“We’ve got to build that first generation of children who know what not to do when they’re in chat rooms,” Estrada said. “You don’t give out personal information, location where you live, accept gifts or go with these guys who you think are 14, 15 or 16, are your friends and who have the same interests as you. But they turn out to be someone else and they take you and they lock you up and maybe even kill you.”

Estrada said his enduring star power has helped promote Safe Surfin’. He has, for example, recorded a Public Service Announcement in Spanish and in English for the organization. Estrada said the generation of students at Mooseheart is the key one.

“When you grow up, you’ll be computer savvy and you can pass it on to your children,” he said. “The Internet’s a great tool but it’s also a very dangerous place.”

Reynolds then spoke to the students and gave them a wealth of information. In addition to a stream of facts about the predators who troll the Internet looking for unsuspecting children, he added video clips that featured real-life stories of children upon whom such predators preyed.

“As with just about anything, there will be some people who will come along and try to ruin things for everyone else,” Reynolds said. “We have to have rules and we have to have police watching the Internet because a few people are causing harm to a lot of people. We have had to form a new group of police officers, cybercops, who protect the Internet from those who would commit crimes where the victims are girls and boys.”

Reynolds had some simple but vital advice for the students.

“Don’t give out your personal information,” he said. “Don’t give out your password. When someone uploads a photograph onto the Internet, there is nothing anyone can do to bring it back. It has gone to cyberspace and it is gone forever. So stop and think about uploading pictures. I don’t have any photos of myself on the Internet of just me alone.

“Never give out personal information, your address, your brother’s name, your sister’s name, where you live, anything like that. If someone is asking for that information, ask yourself if they are really trying to get to know you? Remember sexual predators have no conscience and they have no heart.”

Reynolds reminded the students that he and Estrada were at Mooseheart thanks to support from the Moose fraternity. Prior to Saturday’s 2 p.m. football game between Mooseheart and Hope Academy, Moose International Director of Fraternal Programs Shawn Baile will present a check to Reynolds for roughly $135,000 - money raised by the Moose in the first year of its partnership with Safe Surfin’.

“The Moose are helping us take this program to as many schools throughout the United States as possible,” Reynolds said. “I will tell you that Erik Estrada and Gary Reynolds would not be here today if not for the assistance from Moose International. I want to thank them.”

Founded in 1913, Mooseheart is supported completely through private donations - the great majority of which come from the 1.1 million men and women of the Moose fraternal organization, in more than 1,800 Lodges and 1,600 Chapters located throughout the U.S. , Canada , Great Britain and Bermuda . Moose International headquarters is located on the Mooseheart campus.

Since its founding, Mooseheart has operated a complete, accredited kindergarten-through-high-school academic program, plus art, music, vocational training and interscholastic sports. It is an extremely nurturing and student-tailored program, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12-1.

Mooseheart students who complete their studies with a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0=A) are eligible for up to five years of annually renewable scholarship funding, covering tuition, room and board in an amount comparable to that required for an in-state student at an Illinois public university.

Mooseheart is currently home to nearly 230 students, ranging in age from preschoolers to high school seniors. Applications for admission to Mooseheart are considered from any family whose children are, for whatever reason, lacking a stable home environment. Mooseheart boasts its own U.S. Post Office and a fully functioning branch of Fifth Third Bank.

In addition to Mooseheart, Moose International also supports Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville , FL founded in 1922; and conducts more than $90 million worth of community service programs annually.

Founded in 1888, the Moose organization has long offered its members an opportunity to do good for others while celebrating life, with family, social, and sporting activities. For more information on the Moose organization, visit the websites at www.mooseintl.org , www.mooseheart.org., www.moosehaven.org, or call 630-966-2229.