To get PlayCleanGo into Montana’s schools, a PCG-themed poster was inserted into 2,000 copies of the Montana Invasive Species Education K-9 curriculum that was developed by Montana’s Ag in the Classroom Program; Montana Fish, Wildlife& Parks; Montana Natural Resources & Conservation Service; and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.  The curriculum was developed to promote awareness about invasive species that pose a threat to Montana and demonstrates the importance of stopping the spread of these invasive species.  Included in the curriculum is information on 28 invasive species (all taxa) that the agencies in Montana would like children to become aware of as well as who to contact if seen/found, and thanks to PCG, simple tips on how to prevent their spread!

Another newly developed program in Montana is ‘Adopt A Trailhead Montana’ or AATM.  This project is designed similarly to others in the U.S. where volunteer groups provide noxious weed control measures at trailheads to help stop the spread of noxious weeds further into the backcountry.  By using the signage created by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the program promotes the PCG message and encourages trail-users to take the time to clean their shoes and gear at boot brush kiosks before and after leaving trails selected as AATM trailheads.  The first AATM project in Montana will be launched on September 26, 2015 at the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area near Missoula, Montana.

To promote the PlayCleanGo message in Montana and other mountainous western states, Hunt.Clean.Go. and Ride.Clean.Go. posters and rack cards were developed and are available!  These educational materials target two large recreational audiences that recreate in the west; those that hunt and those that ride or pack. The Hunt.Clean.Go. materials feature a hunter demonstrating how to clean off his boots after a long day of hunting, and the Ride.Clean.Go. materials feature a Back Country Horseman member packing in the Bitterroot-Selway National Forest in Western Montana. Photo credits have been obtained for both of these photos and these materials are available for use in your state!  For additional information about these materials, please contact: Shantell Frame-Martin or 406-444-9491 or Kim Lanahan-Lahti  or 651-259-5293.

August 5th marked the 14th annual Bryant Lake Beach Party, a low-cost community event hosted at Bryant Lake Regional Park. This event was coordinated by Richardson Nature Center and the Hyland Visitor Center within the Three Rivers Park District. This summer, the event was planned around the theme of Invasive Species.  Using carnival style games, arts and crafts, as well as information about invasive species, and representatives from Landscape Restoration promoting the Buckthorn Blaster, guests were given a rich and diverse opportunity to learn about this important topic.

For the kids, we had games that revolved around different invasive species in Minnesota.

•  In the “Muskrat Race,” participants used squirt bottles to propel a suspended image of a muskrat across an imaginary pond. Along the way, the muskrat had to avoid obstacles such as curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil.
•  In the game “Mucking for Worms,” participants waded and fingered through muddy muck looking for “earthworms” (a rubber lookalike, that is).
•  In “Inspectors Needed!” participants had 1-minute to run from the starting line to a ‘boat’ (made of cardboard, covered in Velcro tape), and pull off one aquatic species at a time. The participants had to use an invasive vs. native guide to decide if the aquatic life removed was either invasive or native, then they had to run to the correct bucket deposit and continue until time ran out.

As prizes, kids won pretend tattoos of invasive creatures, along with snacks and other goodies.

Adults had opportunities to talk with experts and pick up invasive species materials. Over 300+ guests left the Bryant Lake Beach Party equipped with the knowledge and even the tools (FREE boot brush) to make Minnesota’s natural beauty sustainable and invasive-free!

PlayCleanGo imprinted boot brushes

As many of you know, boot brushes make a great giveaway item at events. People are excited to get such a neat product and it directly helps them prevent the spread of invasive species. Brightly colored boot brushes in PlayCleanGo orange, blue, and green are now available. These boot brushes have “PlayCleanGo.org” imprinted on one side and “Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks” on the other side. These can be ordered on the PlayCleanGo order form.

PlayCleanGo Videos

PlayCleanGo has been the theme of three, thirty second educational commercials produced in Montana. The first two commercials are centered around a recreational theme. Specifically, the first commercial depicts photos of people partaking in popular recreational activities in Montana and showcases a few of the state listed noxious weeds. The second commercial also showcases recreational activities while focusing on showing recreationalists how to check and remove mud and seeds from their gear, pets and vehicles. The third commercial is in development and will feature a PCG theme of using certified weed seed free forage and preventing weed seed dispersal while hunting. Check out our first two commercials, MNWEC PlayCleanGo Commercial and MNWEC Come Clean, Leave Clean Commercial