← Back

Privacy Policy

Effective date: May 4, 2026 · Last updated: May 4, 2026
The short version: We collect only what we need to make the app work for your family. We don't sell your data. We don't share it with advertisers. You can delete your account and everything in it at any time.

Who we are

First Outside is operated by Mother Node LLC, a sole-member LLC based in Charlotte, North Carolina. When this policy says "First Outside," "we," "us," or "our," it means Mother Node LLC.

Questions about this policy: hello@firstoutside.com

This app is for parents and caregivers — not children

First Outside is designed for adults (18+) who are parents or caregivers of young children. The app is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has created an account, contact us at hello@firstoutside.com and we will delete it promptly.

We collect limited information about your child (name and approximate age) solely to match activities to their developmental stage. This information is tied to your account, not to your child directly, and is never used to market to or profile your child.

What we collect and why

Data Why we collect it Where it's stored
Email address To send your sign-in link. No password needed. Railway (US-based Postgres)
Your first and last name To personalize the app experience. Last name is never shown publicly. Railway (US-based Postgres)
Your child's name and birth month + year To match activities to your child's developmental stage. We store month and year only — not the full birthdate. Railway (US-based Postgres)
ZIP code To show parks, events, and activities near you. Never shown publicly or shared with your name. Railway (US-based Postgres)
Starting point preference To calibrate activity recommendations to where your family is in their outdoor journey. Railway (US-based Postgres)
Session token To keep you signed in. Stored as an HttpOnly cookie. Expires after 30 days of inactivity. Railway (US-based Postgres) + your device
Device location (optional) To show nearby parks on the Nearby tab. Only used in-session. Not stored on our servers. Your device only
App usage data (e.g. which activities you save) To improve recommendations and the app experience. Not shared externally. Railway (US-based Postgres)
Help/feedback messages To respond to support requests. Forwarded to our team email via Resend. Our team email inbox

What we don't collect

How we use your information

We do not use your information to serve advertising. We do not sell your data. We do not share your data with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Third-party services we use

Service Purpose Data shared
Railway Database and backend hosting (US-based) All account data stored here
Netlify Frontend hosting Standard web logs (IP, browser type)
Resend Transactional email (sign-in links, help responses) Email address, message content
OpenWeatherMap Weather data shown on Discover Your ZIP code (no account data)
Google Places API Nearby park discovery Your ZIP code or approximate location (no account data)
OpenStreetMap / CartoDB Map tiles on Nearby screen Standard map tile requests (no account data)

Data retention

We keep your account data for as long as you have an account. If you delete your account:

Your rights

You have the right to:

California residents have additional rights under CCPA. To exercise any right, contact hello@firstoutside.com.

Security

Geographic availability

First Outside is currently available only in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area. We verify your ZIP code during sign-up to confirm eligibility. Out-of-market users are invited to join a waitlist and are not granted app access.

Changes to this policy

If we make material changes, we'll notify you by email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the app after that date means you accept the updated policy.

Contact

Mother Node LLC
Charlotte, NC
hello@firstoutside.com