Privacy Policy

TurtleCycle (FTC Team #19745) is a student-led initiative providing a platform to share hardware and technical resources across the FIRST community. We are committed to protecting personal data and acting as responsible stewards of the information we hold.

Purpose and Ethical Stewardship

We operate a centralized digital platform to connect teams, mentors, and resources while prioritizing privacy, security, and ethical use of data.

Data Minimization & Collection

We follow the principle of data minimization and only collect the information necessary to support team connections and resource sharing. Examples include:

Team numbers and regional locations
Contact information for coaches or lead mentors
Inventory descriptions and part photos

As a non-profit initiative, we do not sell or otherwise distribute personal information for commercial gain.

The Verified-Access Security Model

In addition to technical safeguards, TurtleCycle uses a verified-access model: sensitive data (for example, coach emails or workshop locations) is accessible only to registered and verified members of the FTC community. This closed loop of trust helps protect users from spam and external data harvesting.

Commitment to Youth Privacy

Because many community members are minors, we encourage accounts to be managed or supervised by an adult coach or mentor. This helps ensure communications remain appropriate and that students are protected online.

Data Autonomy and Rights

Teams retain control over their information. Participating teams can access, modify, or delete their profile and inventory data at any time via the Team Dashboard. For additional requests or questions, contact your team administrator or coach.