MOOSEHEART, IL – When Mooseheart’s football team wants to “get away from itall” – it heads to Camp Ross, the team’s “Fortress of Solitude” located just southwest of Mt. Morris.

In recent years, Camp Ross, the 50-acre wooded area owned by the Moose fraternity and used as a summer camp by Mooseheart’s children, has become a preseason getaway for the Red Ramblers as they begin preparations for their new season.

But in 2008, the preseason football schedule and the start of school at Mooseheart did not mesh properly, and the Ramblers were unable to begin practice at Camp Ross.

All is back to normal this year, however, as the sounds of football again echo through the trees and across the meadow which becomes a practice field. Practice began Wednesday (Aug. 12) and continues through Friday when the team returns to campus.

“I kind of refer to the movie ‘Remember the Titans,’” Mooseheart coach Gary Urwiler said. “It’s such a powerful story. But when they truly went away to camp and how diverse in their thinking and in team concept they were and then pulling them together. It’s not quite like that for us. But we’re leaving everything behind and getting a fresh start.”

Mooseheart’s players are coming together from far and wide to preseason camp. While some students remain on campus through the summer, others return home. That distance apart quickly vanishes when the team reassembles. The atmosphere at Camp Ross creates a situation where that bonding can take place without any outside distractions.

“We live, we go to school and do everything together,” Urwiler said. “We’re going to find a way to treat them as brothers and respect that on this team. Hopefully that will translate not only into the football season but after.”

Urwiler said he missed the chance to go to Camp Ross in 2008 and was very happy to be able to return in preparation for this year’s campaign, which begins Aug. 28 with a home game against North Shore Country Day.

“It’s definitely a benefit,” Urwiler said. “To sleep, eat and breathe football and to have some isolated time where we can talk about football non-stop. Right now, the guys are responding well and seem to have a good attitude and how to be prepared. Our big thing is how to be prepared, not just for football but for things ahead in this school year as well as in life.”

Mooseheart’s roster is still a bit of a work in progress, with roster players who are participating in the Youth Conservation Corps, a Moose-sponsored program that takes place at Yellowstone National Park and others whose time at home has not yet ended. Still, the overall roster will feature more than half the male portion of the high school’s enrollment, something that has been a feature of Mooseheart football for years. A year ago, Mooseheart had 117 high school students on the Opening Day of school.

“On the roster, we’re at 36,” Urwiler said. “It definitely helps out having a couple people at different positions to give us a different look. We hope for them to work harder and to actually see other people in that position so they can get a visual picture of what they need to do. It’s always nice to have numbers.”

Urwiler said he was ready with a bullhorn to get the team moving for its preseason-opening practice, which started at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. He didn’t need it, however, as the Ramblers were up, dressed and waiting for him on the campground’s basketball court at 5:45 a.m.

 “That was a great sign,” Urwiler said. “We’ll see what happens in the coming days, if that enthusiasm is still there and how prepared they’ll be. But it was a nice gesture for any coach to see them all ready, chinstraps on and helmets on and all ready.”

Urwiler has had great success since returning to Mooseheart for his second stint as head coach. He was the Ramblers coach from 1996-2001 and returned in 2005 and had coached a further five seasons. Through his decade in charge of the Ramblers program, Urwiler is 42-42 and has taken the team to the playoffs four times. Last year, Mooseheart was 2-7; a record upon which everyone involved with the program would like to improve.

“I think we have a good core of guys who have been there and have seen some of that success and remember that,” Urwiler said. “We’re going to be talking about how to leave a legacy and how to leave a legacy. It’s not only a legacy for football but a legacy for life. That part’s going to be important.”

The season and home opener is only two weeks away, and Urwiler said the practice schedule would be hectic in advance of that 7 p.m. contest at Mooseheart’s stadium. A year ago, the Ramblers held on for a 24-20 victory over North Shore Country Day, their third straight win over the Raiders.

“It’ll come quicker than what we anticipate,” Urwiler said. “But we’ll be ready. We play North Shore. It was a good game last year and hopefully we’ll be able to squeeze (a win) out. It’ll be an interesting test to see how we are and to see how good we’re going to be. I think it’s a great first game for us.”

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.

Mooseheart Football Training Camp Click > to start Video

Mooseheart Football Training camp

 

2009 Mooseheart Football Roster

2009 Mooseheart Football Schedule
Mooseheart coach Gary Urwiler, 10th year. 2008 record: 2-7
(Urwiler career record: 42-42, all at Mooseheart).

2009 Mooseheart Volleyball Schedule
Mooseheart coach: Kristin Shuman, 2nd year. 2008 record: 7-13.