Privacy Policy
Effective Date: March 1, 2026
Last Updated: March 1, 2026
BGWinNature (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates mobile applications including Reptile Tracker and Hiking Buddy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our applications and services.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Email address
- Display name and username
- Password (securely hashed, never stored in plain text)
- Profile photo (optional)
User-Provided Data
Depending on the app, you may provide:
- Hiking Buddy: Hike plans, trail notes, check-in data, emergency contacts (name, phone number, email, relationship), GPS location during active hikes, and profile information (bio, phone number)
- Reptile Tracker: Reptile profiles, feeding logs, health records, and photos
Location Data
Hiking Buddy collects GPS location data only during active hikes and when you explicitly use location-based features (e.g., finding nearby trails). Location data is used for:
- Tracking your position on the trail for safety
- Sending your location to emergency contacts during an SOS alert
- Displaying nearby trails and points of interest
Emergency Contact Information
Hiking Buddy allows you to store emergency contact information (name, phone number, email). This data is used solely to notify your designated contacts via SMS or email during safety emergencies, such as:
- When you trigger an SOS alert
- When you miss a scheduled safety check-in
Usage and Device Data
We automatically collect standard usage data for app improvement and troubleshooting, including device type, operating system version, and app interaction analytics.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To provide and maintain our app services
- To send emergency SMS and email notifications to your designated contacts (Hiking Buddy)
- To enable safety check-in features and SOS alerts
- To personalize your experience and display relevant content
- To improve our applications and fix bugs
- To communicate important updates about our services
3. SMS and Messaging
Hiking Buddy uses SMS messaging through Twilio to send emergency alerts to your designated emergency contacts. Key details:
- Message purpose: Emergency safety alerts only (SOS alerts, missed check-in notifications)
- Message frequency: Messages are sent only during emergency situations; there are no recurring marketing messages
- Opt-out: Emergency contacts can reply STOP to any message to stop receiving alerts
- Help: Emergency contacts can reply HELP for assistance
- Message and data rates may apply
- We do not share phone numbers with third parties for marketing purposes
4. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services to operate our apps:
- Supabase: Database hosting and user authentication
- Twilio: SMS delivery for emergency alerts (Hiking Buddy)
- Firebase: Authentication and backend services (Reptile Tracker)
- Mapbox: Map rendering and trail data (Hiking Buddy)
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not share your data for advertising or marketing purposes.
5. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored securely using industry-standard encryption. Authentication tokens are stored in your device’s secure keychain. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction.
6. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your personal data through the app’s profile and settings
- Correct inaccurate data via the Edit Profile feature
- Delete your account and associated data by contacting us
- Export your data upon request
7. Children’s Privacy
Our apps are not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or via email.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:
Email: bgwinnature@gmail.com
Website: bgwinnature.com