Privacy Policy

Last updated July 2026

This policy explains what information The Outdoor Dispatch (operated by Epiqara LLC) collects and how we use it. We keep data collection deliberately minimal — you can browse the entire site without an account or telling us who you are.

What we collect

Information you give us. When you submit one of our forms — report a problem with a listing, or suggest a town, activity, or group — we receive what you type and your email if you choose to include it (it’s optional on both), so we can act on it and reply where relevant. These submissions are sent to us by email; we don’t store them in a database.

Browsing & usage data. Like most websites, our hosting provider records standard technical information when you visit — such as your IP address, browser type, pages viewed, and timestamps — for security and to keep the site running.

Aggregate analytics. We use Vercel’s privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics and performance monitoring (Speed Insights) to understand anonymous, aggregate traffic and site performance. They set no cookies and don’t track you across other sites.

Approximate location. On our home page we highlight the editions closest to you. To do that, our hosting provider derives an approximate location from your IP address, and we use it on the server for that one request to pick the nearest editions. We don’t store your location, build a profile from it, or share it — and the full list of editions is always there regardless. No location permission prompt is involved.

How we use information

To operate, secure, and improve the site, and to respond to what you send us. We do not sell your personal information, we don’t show advertising, and we don’t share the email you give us except as needed to run the service.

Service providers

We rely on a small number of reputable providers — including Vercel (hosting, cookieless analytics, and performance monitoring) and Fastmail (email). They process data on our behalf to deliver the service.

Links to other sites

Our listings and features link out to third-party sites — organizers’ own pages and partners such as AllTrails. Following a link takes you to a site we don’t control, governed by its own privacy policy. We don’t share your personal information with these sites: an outbound link is a normal request from your browser (we even strip the referrer), and any affiliate commission is tracked on the partner’s side, not by us sending them data about you.

How long we keep information

We keep things only as long as we need them. Form submissions — a problem report or a suggestion — are sent to us by email and kept only long enough to act on them and reply where relevant; they aren’t stored in a database, and we’ll remove an email you sent on request. The single edition preference in your browser stays on your device.

How we protect information

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the limited information we handle, including encrypted connections (HTTPS). No method of transmission or storage is ever 100% secure, but because we collect so little — and don’t store form submissions in a database — there is very little about you for us to expose.

Your rights and choices

Wherever you live, you can ask us to access, correct, or delete any personal information we hold about you (in practice, an email you included with a form), and to receive a copy of it. We do not sell or share your personal information or use it for targeted advertising, so there’s nothing to opt out of there, and we honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals. You won’t be treated differently for exercising any of these rights. To make a request, email legal [at] epiqara.com or use our contact form.

Any email you give us is optional and removable on request. You can browse with a cookie- or tracker-blocking browser without losing functionality.

We also save a single preference in your browser’s local storage — the last edition you viewed — so we can offer a quick link back to it. It never leaves your device; clearing your browser’s site data removes it. See our Cookies page for details.

EEA & UK users. If you’re in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have these rights under the GDPR / UK GDPR. We process your information to operate and secure the site (our legitimate interests) and to reply when you contact us (at your request). As we’re based in the United States, the limited data described above is processed in the US. You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Children

The Outdoor Dispatch is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

Changes & contact

We may update this policy as the site evolves; the “last updated” date above reflects the current version. Questions or privacy requests? Email legal [at] epiqara.com or use our contact form.