Privacy Policy

Introduction

The Northern Lights Forest Education Society ("NLFES," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, participate in our programs, or interact with our services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access our website or use our services.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Register for our educational programs or workshops
• Contact us through our website or email
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Fill out forms or surveys
• Apply for employment or volunteer positions

This personal information may include:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)
• Age and date of birth (for program registration)
• Emergency contact information
• Medical information relevant to program participation
• Payment information for program fees
• Photographs or videos taken during programs (with consent)

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage patterns, including:

• IP address and browser type
• Pages visited and time spent on our website
• Referring website or search terms
• Device information and operating system

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide and manage our educational programs and services
• To communicate with you about programs, events, and important updates
• To process registrations and payments
• To ensure participant safety during outdoor activities
• To improve our programs and website functionality
• To send newsletters and educational content (with your consent)
• To comply with legal obligations and safety requirements
• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our participants, such as:

• Payment processors for program fees
• Email service providers for communications
• Website hosting and analytics services
• Emergency medical services (when necessary for participant safety)

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena, court order, or other legal process, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our organization, your information may be transferred to the new owner.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure encryption for sensitive data transmission
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Secure storage of physical documents

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
• Data Portability: Request transfer of your information to another organization

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable laws.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
• Improve our website functionality and user experience

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect some features of our website.

Children's Privacy

Many of our programs are designed for children and youth. We take special care to protect the privacy of minors. When collecting information from or about children under 18, we:

• Obtain parental or guardian consent before collecting personal information
• Limit collection to information necessary for program participation and safety
• Do not share children's information for marketing purposes
• Provide parents/guardians access to their child's information upon request

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.