April 21, 2006

College Park, Md. - Steve Whittenberg, a junior on Maryland's nationally-ranked men's lacrosse team, is doing his part to help "at-risk" teens with the help of Brown Dog Services and Project Reel.

Brown Dog Services is a non-profit organization founded by Steve Sheetz. The program is dedicated to provide "at-risk" teenagers with a safe outlet through hunting and fishing.

"I think it is a great cause because we are giving back to people that need the attention," said Whittenberg, a 2005 USILA All-American. "It means a lot to me to take kids out for their first fishing experience and to be a part of the excitement and fun of fishing with friends and people who these kids look up to. It is great to be a person who these kids look up to not only on the water, but in lacrosse as well. I also enjoy when the kids that we take out catch their first fish. The emotion and excitement on their faces is priceless."

Even with all that he is able to bring to Brown Dog Services and Project Reel, Whittenberg looks at what the program is doing for him.

"Being part of the Brown Dog staff not only lets me help young kids stay out of trouble, but it is another way for me to enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer," said Whittenberg. "It gives me a chance to get away from school work, lacrosse, and daily challenges as a college student and lets me relax. Going out and fishing eases tension from the previous week and gives me incentive to continue to work hard the next week so that I can go out fishing again. It also gives me a chance to meet new people and show others that they are cared for. It means a lot to the kids we take out for spending time with them and showing that we care.

"I have gotten some things out of being on the Brown Dog staff that I couldn't really get if I didn't belong to family. I have met some great people and have shared some experiences that will last a lifetime. I know that at the end of the day, I can call one of the staff members and they would do anything for me. We all support each other by going to each others special events like lacrosse games. Another thing that I have gotten from Brown Dog is doing things for others with no thought of repayment. Brown Dog Services is a non-profit organization, so there is no base pay or pay of my own. Everything donated goes to making the boat better, getting equipment, and making it a better experience for the next teen that we take out. I enjoy giving these kids the opportunity to fish because it makes them happy to go out and fish and it makes me happy to go out and fish with them and show them what I know. By being a staff member, I have also gained more knowledge and more skills of fishing and hunting. I know more about both now then I have ever known and I am still learning. I enjoy gaining knowledge of both fishing and hunting equipment, techniques, places to go, and many other aspects of the outdoors."

So what does Whittenberg do for Brown Dog?

"What I personally do is I am and excursion guide as well as a hunting guide if called upon," said Whittenberg. "With Mr. Sheetz, and sometimes some other staff members, we take the Brown Dog kids out on the company boat and take them fishing. I help put on bait or lures; I rig up fishing poles, entertain the kids when there is down time, clean the boat, and just enjoy myself. I also sometimes pilot the boat, tie the boat off to docks, navigate, and other maintenance jobs that are required for a water excursion."

While it may seem out of the ordinary for "at-risk" teens to be taken hunting and fishing, Sheetz sees things differently.

"We at Brown Dog, truly believe that fishing provides individuals with valuable life skills: desire, dedication, and determination," said Sheetz. "We wish to pass on these life skills and our love for the water to every teenager in our program."

Brown Dog Services is holding its annual fundraising dinner and auction tomorrow evening, April 22. For more information log on to http://www.browndogservices.com.