Privacy Policy
Park Quest is operated by Michelle Shula. This policy explains what data the Park Quest iOS app collects, how it is used, and the choices you have. Contact: michelleshula@gmail.com.
What Park Quest collects
- Adventure journal entries you create — park name, notes, and a photo you choose to attach. These are stored locally on your device using Apple's on-device storage (SwiftData). We do not upload them to a server.
- Photos — when you take or pick a photo to verify a nature activity, the image stays on your device.
- Location — used only while the app is open to find parks near you. Your coordinates are never transmitted to us or stored.
- Badge claim form — when you reach 20 verified adventures and choose to claim your real badge, the app opens your email client pre-filled with your name, email, and mailing address so you can send it to us. This information is only used to mail your physical badge and is not sold, shared, or used for marketing.
What Park Quest does NOT collect
- No account, login, or user profile
- No analytics, advertising IDs, or tracking SDKs
- No crash-reporting third parties (we rely on Apple's opt-in App Analytics)
- No background location
How we use your information
We use the information you email us solely to ship your physical Certified Backyard Naturalist badge. Once your badge has been mailed, the email is archived and not used for any other purpose.
Third parties
Park Quest uses Apple Maps to display park locations. Map tile requests are handled by Apple under Apple's privacy policy. We do not embed advertising or analytics SDKs.
Data retention and deletion
Journal entries and photos live on your device — deleting the app removes them. Badge-claim emails you send us are retained for up to 12 months for shipping records and then deleted on request.
Children
Park Quest is designed to be used by families together. The app does not collect personal information from children. Photos and journal entries stay on the device.
Your rights
You can request access to, correction of, or deletion of any information you've emailed us by writing to michelleshula@gmail.com. See Privacy Choices for details.
Changes
We'll update the date at the top of this page when this policy changes.