Privacy Policy

Muskeg Minds values your privacy. This policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our online platform and participate in our educational tourism and wilderness expedition services. We are committed to transparency and compliance with applicable privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where relevant to individuals engaging with our services.

1. Who We Are

Muskeg Minds provides guided educational tours of boreal and Arctic ecosystems, wilderness survival workshops, wildlife viewing excursions, Indigenous cultural exchange programs, environmental conservation education, tailored academic field trips, and sustainable tourism consulting. Our address is 789 Glacier Peak Drive, Suite 201, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 0X5, Canada.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services. This includes:

• Personal Identification Information: Such as your name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport details (for international travel), and contact details (postal address, phone number). This information is collected when you book a tour, workshop, or inquire about our services.
• Health and Medical Information: Relevant health conditions, allergies, or dietary restrictions that may affect your participation in our wilderness expeditions for your safety and well-being. This is collected with your explicit consent.
• Payment Information: Details required to process payments for our services, such as credit card numbers and billing addresses. These are processed securely by third-party payment processors, and we do not store sensitive payment card details.
• Communication Data: Records of your correspondence with us via email, phone, or our online platform.
• Technical Data: Information about your device and how you interact with our online platform, including IP address, browser type, operating system, and browsing activity. This helps us improve our website's functionality and user experience.
• Feedback and Survey Data: Information you provide in reviews, surveys, or testimonials about our services.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• To Provide Our Services: Fulfilling tour bookings, organizing wilderness expeditions, delivering educational workshops, and managing Indigenous cultural exchange programs.
• For Safety and Well-being: Using health information to ensure your safety during expeditions and to accommodate any special requirements.
• Customer Support: Responding to your inquiries, providing assistance, and managing your bookings.
• Communication: Sending you important updates about your bookings, policy changes, or information about our services that may be of interest to you.
• Improvement of Services: Analyzing usage data to enhance our tours, workshops, and website functionality.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Fulfilling our legal obligations, such as maintaining accurate records and responding to lawful requests from public authorities.

4. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data (GDPR)

For individuals covered by GDPR, our legal bases for processing your personal data include:

• Performance of a Contract: When processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party (e.g., booking an expedition).
• Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., improving our services, preventing fraud), provided these interests are not overridden by your data protection rights.
• Consent: When you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities (e.g., for sensitive health information or marketing communications). You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
• Legal Obligation: When processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject.

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share your information with:

• Our Service Providers: Trusted third-party partners who assist us in operating our business and providing services, such as payment processors, travel insurance providers, local guides, and technology support. These partners are bound by confidentiality agreements and are only permitted to use your data for the specific purposes for which we engage them.
• Indigenous Partners: When conducting Indigenous cultural exchange programs, relevant (and minimal) personal information may be shared to facilitate your participation and ensure cultural appropriateness, always with your informed consent where specific details are shared.
• Legal and Regulatory Authorities: When required by law, court order, or governmental regulation.
• Emergency Situations: In cases of medical emergency, relevant health information may be shared with emergency services.

6. International Data Transfers

As a Canadian company, your data will primarily be processed and stored within Canada. However, some of our service providers (e.g., cloud hosting, booking platforms) may operate in other countries. When your personal data is transferred outside of Canada, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this privacy policy and applicable laws, such as using standard contractual clauses or relying on the recipient's Privacy Shield certification (for transfers to the US, if applicable).

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): Request the deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit the way we use your personal data.
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time where we relied on consent to process your personal information.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include encryption, access controls, secure networks, and regular security assessments. While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. This period will vary depending on the type of information and how it is used. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely destroy or de-identify it.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our online platform may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze website traffic, and understand user behavior. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. For more detailed information, please refer to our separate Cookie Policy (if applicable).

11. Links to Other Websites

Our online platform may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are generally not directed to individuals under the age of 18 without parental or guardian consent and supervision, especially for wilderness expeditions. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children without appropriate legal guardian consent. If you are a parent or guardian and become aware that your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Muskeg Minds

Phone: (867) 333-4567
Email: [email protected]