The PlayCleanGo® campaign is entering its next chapter.
The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA), Invasives Canada, and Mexico’s National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) have released a new PlayCleanGo®: Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks® Five-Year Program Plan. The plan outlines a shared strategy to strengthen invasive species prevention efforts across North America.
For more than a decade, PlayCleanGo has helped outdoor recreationists understand how simple actions, like cleaning boots, gear, pets, and vehicles, can help prevent the spread of invasive plants, animals, and pests. Today, more than 500 partners across the United States, Canada, and Mexico use PlayCleanGo messaging and tools to promote responsible recreation and protect natural landscapes.
The new five-year plan builds on that momentum while expanding the campaign’s reach, partnerships, and prevention tools.
A Shared Strategy for Prevention
Invasive species do not recognize borders. Seeds, insects, and pathogens can easily move between regions through outdoor recreation, travel, and trade. Because of this, prevention efforts are strongest when partners work together across landscapes and jurisdictions.
The new PlayCleanGo program plan reflects this shared commitment. Developed collaboratively by partners in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the plan outlines seven strategic goals that will guide the campaign’s work over the next five years:
- Clarifying and evolving the PlayCleanGo brand for relevance and inclusion
- Expanding partnerships and community engagement
- Strengthening public understanding and motivation for behavior change
- Revitalizing the PlayCleanGo pledge and digital community
- Improving on-the-ground prevention infrastructure
- Securing sustainable funding
- Ensuring ongoing evaluation and collaboration
Together, these goals will help partners strengthen outreach, expand prevention tools, and ensure the campaign continues to connect with diverse outdoor communities across North America.
Expanding the Campaign Across North America
The PlayCleanGo campaign is implemented across North America through the leadership of NAISMA in the United States, Invasives Canada, and CONABIO in Mexico. Each organization brings regional expertise and partnerships that help make the campaign relevant for different landscapes, cultures, and recreation experiences.
In Canada, the plan focuses on expanding partnerships with agency networks, outdoor recreation groups, and Indigenous communities. In Mexico, partners are working to develop Spanish-language resources and culturally relevant imagery and messaging that resonate with local communities.
By adapting the campaign while maintaining a shared message, partners can ensure that invasive species prevention remains accessible and meaningful across the continent.
Turning Strategy Into Action
Beginning in 2026, partners will begin implementing the first phase of the plan. Early efforts will include expanding prevention infrastructure such as boot brush stations, developing new multilingual outreach materials, strengthening the PlayCleanGo pledge program, and increasing collaboration across partner networks. These efforts will help more outdoor recreationists understand how invasive species spread and how simple actions can protect the places they love.
At its core, PlayCleanGo is about empowering people to take responsibility for the landscapes they enjoy. Whether you are hiking a trail, visiting a park, or working in the field, cleaning your gear before heading to your next destination can help stop invasive species before they spread. We believe that by working together, we can protect North America’s natural landscapes.
Read the full PlayCleanGo Five-Year Program Plan: https://tinyurl.com/2zjt7ncf
