Submitted by Marg Glendon
What is a Plike? A Plike is a hike that includes picking up litter while on the hike.
Litter can be seen on the Bruce Trail and especially at Trail Access Points. Some of the most littered items include cigarette butts, single use plastic bottles, and plastic doggie waste bags (with contents).
We want to reinforce the “Leave No Trace” principles, especially “Pack It In. Pack It Out”. What you bring, take it out with you. A good rule of thumb is – if it wasn’t there to begin with, it shouldn’t be left behind.
Peninsula Bruce Trail Club, with the support of A Greener Future, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Keep The Bruce Clean & Green, MacGregor Point Park and Owen Sound Waste Watchers, invites community volunteers and visitors to help with a “Plike” at two locations:
• Little Cove Parking Lot and nearby Bruce Trail on July 17 at 10:00 a.m.
• Lion’s Head Nature Reserve at McCurdy Parking Lot and nearby Bruce Trail on July 18 at 10:00 a.m.
Pre-registration is required.
On both days, a Park Interpreter will lead a free 2 hour Enviro-hike where registered volunteers will learn about the unique ecosystem found here on the Saugeen Peninsula, and help to keep the Bruce Trail clean. Volunteers will pick up litter while hiking and a trained volunteer will categorize and submit the collected litter data for the Community Science project, “Keep the Bruce Trail Clean & Green”.
Goals for the event include keeping the Bruce Trail clean, learning about our local environment, providing information about “Leave No Trace” principles, and engaging the residents and visitors as volunteers with this Community Science project.
Volunteers not wishing to hike, are also needed to help with a concurrent parking lot clean-up and supervising the information table.
Following the Enviro-Hikes, volunteers are invited to join a Trash Talk Café to share their observations and experiences regarding litter on the Bruce Trail and other natural green spaces.
We need volunteers. How to register? Send an email to envirohike@gmail.com. Maximum group size is 10, please register early. You can indicate whether you want to volunteer for one or both Enviro-hikes. Bring water, mask, sunscreen, gloves, hand sanitizer and light lunch. Wear sturdy footwear.
Need more information? Contact Marg Glendon at 519-719-7739 or pbtcoutreach@gmail.com
