Who We Are

Science Explorers is an innovative, hands-on science education company dedicated to providing STEM programs for children ages 4–11. We partner with schools, community organizations, and families to deliver after-school clubs, summer camps, school assemblies, and at-home kits across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

Science Explorers operates the website at sciencexplorers.com (“Website”) and is the data controller responsible for your personal information under this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

Information you provide directly:

• Parent/guardian name, email address, phone number, and billing address
• Child’s first name, age, grade level, and school
• Medical information, allergies, or special needs disclosed during registration
• Emergency contact details
• Payment information (processed securely via third-party payment processors; we do not store full card details)
• Messages or inquiries submitted through our contact forms

Information collected automatically:

• IP address, browser type, operating system, and device type
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs
• Cookie and tracking data (see Section 6)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process program registrations and manage enrollments
• Communicate program schedules, updates, and important notices
• Ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of participating children
• Process payments and issue refunds where applicable
• Respond to your questions, feedback, and support requests
• Send occasional newsletters, program announcements, and promotional offers — you may opt out at any time
• Improve our website, programs, and curriculum based on usage patterns
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms & Conditions
• Use photographs or videos for marketing purposes (subject to your consent — see Section 2 of our Terms & Conditions)

We will never use your information for purposes incompatible with those listed above without obtaining your prior consent.

Children’s Privacy (COPPA)

Science Explorers is committed to protecting the privacy of children in accordance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and applicable state laws.

• Our website and online registration are directed at parents and guardians, not children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under the age of 13 online.
• All personal data about a child is collected from and provided by a parent or legal guardian during the registration process.
• We collect only the minimum child information necessary to safely deliver our programs (e.g., first name, age, allergies).
• Parents and guardians may request to review, correct, or delete their child’s information at any time by contacting us.
• If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information directly from a child under 13 without verified parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who assist with payment processing, email communications, website hosting, and analytics. These providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.
• Partner Organizations: Schools, community centers, or organizations that co-host a Science Explorers program may receive participant lists limited to the minimum information needed to coordinate the program.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Science Explorers, our staff, or the public.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your data becomes subject to a materially different privacy policy.

Any third parties we work with are required to handle your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience and collect usage data. Here is what we use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly (e.g., maintaining your session, processing forms). These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the site (e.g., Google Analytics). Data collected is aggregated and anonymous.
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. These are only set with your consent.

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. For more information on managing cookies, visit allaboutcookies.org.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Registration and enrollment data is kept for up to 3 years following your last program participation to accommodate re-enrollment, billing inquiries, and legal obligations.
• Payment records are retained for up to 7 years in accordance with financial and tax regulations.
• Health and safety information is retained for the duration of the program and deleted within 90 days of program completion, unless a legal obligation requires otherwise.
• Marketing preferences are retained until you opt out or request deletion.
• Website analytics data is retained in aggregated, anonymized form indefinitely.

When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized.

Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

• Our website uses SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS) to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
• Payment information is processed through PCI-DSS compliant payment providers. We do not store full credit card numbers on our systems.
• Access to personal data is restricted to Science Explorers staff and authorized service providers who need it to perform their functions.
• Staff with access to personal data are trained on data protection practices.

While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to maintaining industry-standard protections.

Your Rights & Choices

As a parent or guardian, you have the following rights regarding your personal information and your child’s information:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the Contact section below. We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

California Residents: If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know about personal information collected, the right to delete, and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights. Please contact us for a CCPA-specific request.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including partner organizations, educational resources, and social media platforms. These sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their practices.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit. The presence of a link on our site does not constitute an endorsement of that site’s privacy practices.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page
• Post the revised policy on our website
• Notify enrolled families by email for any material changes that affect how we use their personal data

We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of our website or participation in our programs after the revised policy is posted constitutes your acceptance of the changes.