Play Clean Go (PCG)
is a public awareness program that encourages outdoor recreationists to help prevent the spread of invasive species by cleaning footwear, equipment, tires, pets, and gear before and after visiting natural areas.
As a non-profit organization, the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council (NBISC) works alongside hikers, trail clubs, and outdoor enthusiasts to keep our province's forests and parks healthy.
Stop Invasive Species in your Tracks
Play
Get outside and enjoy New Brunswick's parks, trails, waterways, and natural spaces.
REMOVE plants, seeds, and mud from your boots, gear, pets, and vehicles before entering and leaving a trail.
Clean
Inspect and clean your footwear, gear, equipment, vehicles, and pets before and after every outdoor adventure.
CLEAN gear with water or a boot brush station before traveling to new recreational areas.
Go
Head off to your next adventure knowing you're helping prevent the spread of invasive species.
REPORT any unfamiliar or suspected invasive plants you spot along the trail. This allows regional land managers and provincial authorities to track invasive species early.
While NBISC does not carry out physical species removals or trail clearing, we provide outdoor recreationists with the tools, boot-cleaning infrastructure, and reporting channels needed to stop invasive plants from hitchhiking into our favourite natural spaces.
How This Helps
Getting rid of, or even just controlling, an invasive species once it has arrived is very difficult. Prevention is the most effective way to protect New Brunswick's natural areas.
Many terrestrial invasive species are spread unintentionally as people move between trails, parks, campgrounds, forests, and other recreational areas. Seeds, plant fragments, insects, fungi, and other organisms can hitch a ride on footwear, clothing, tires, pets, and outdoor equipment.
By taking a few moments to inspect and clean your gear before and after each outing, you can help stop invasive species from spreading to new locations.
Program Activities
Through the PLAY CLEAN GO program, we work with government, municipalities, conservation organizations, researchers, trail managers, and outdoor recreation groups to raise awareness about terrestrial invasive species and the simple actions people can take to prevent their spread. Through education, outreach, boot brush stations, and community partnerships, we encourage responsible outdoor recreation and help reduce the spread of invasive species across New Brunswick.
Check out our PLAY CLEAN GO activities below and contact us if you would like to get involved!
Boot Brush Stations
We installed these at trailheads to encourage visitors to clean their footwear before and after using trails.
Photo: Nature Trust of New Brunswick.
Partnership Initiatives
We work with partners to support invasive plant stewardship and prevention initiatives.
Educational Programs
We provide educational programming for schools, youth groups, and community organizations.
Outreach
Initiatives
We Incorporate PlayCleanGo outreach into volunteer events, trail maintenance, stewardship activities, and invasive plant removal projects.
Stop these species in your tracks!
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Garlic Mustard
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Japanese Knotweed
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Spongy Moth
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White-nose Syndrome
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Woodland Angelica
See it? Report it!
As a non-profit organization, we do not physically remove established invasive species. Rapid reporting does allows us to focus on prevention, community education, and strengthening tracking networks.
Help keep New Brunswick free of invasive species!
Resources
Check out some of our free helpful resources
Take the Pledge
Ready to help stop invasive species in their tracks?
Take the PlayCleanGo pledge and do your part to help protect New Brunswick's parks, trails, forests, and natural areas.