Effective May 1, 2009.
Nature Rocks™ is committed to maintaining your privacy and your trust. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, protect, use and share information about you when you use the Nature Rocks website (the "Site"). We hope this information increases your confidence in Nature Rocks and enhances your experience on our Site. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and subject to the Nature Rocks Terms of Service. Each time that you use the Site, you signify that you agree to be bound by the Terms of Service and this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, you must discontinue using the Service.
I. ABOUT NATURE ROCKS
Nature Rocks is an online service for parents to inspire and empower them to reconnect their children and families with nature. Nature provides affordable quality family time and helps make children happier, healthier and smarter. Nature Rocks offers parents great tips and tools they can use for nature activities in and around their home, ways to find local parks and programs, and special partner offers to make reconnecting with nature easy and fun.
II. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
User Provided Information. Nature Rocks collects personal information from you when you register for our newsletter. To register for our newsletter, you must provide your email address.
From time to time we may ask you to respond to surveys or other requests for information and we collect the information you provide. We may collect information from you when you participate in promotions offered on our Site. We may also collect information about you through other methods, including research surveys or information we obtain from third parties, including verification services, data services, as well as public sources. We use this information to continually offer you the most value as a Nature Rocks participant.
All personally identifiable information that we collect may become part of your Nature Rocks file and may be used by Nature Rocks as provided in this Privacy Policy or as disclosed at the time you provide the information or as otherwise agreed by you.
Web Logs. Like most standard Website servers, we collect information from all visitors to the Site. This information may include the browser you are using, the internet address from which you linked to our Site, the operating system of your computer, the unique IP address of the computer you used to access our Site, and usage and browsing habits. We use this information to help diagnose and troubleshoot server malfunctions, to analyze trends, track user movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information. We may also use individual information we collect through web logs to send you targeted offers and other communications.
Cookies. To help make sure you receive information that is relevant to you, our Site uses data "cookies." These cookies are small data files stored on your computer which identify you as a previous visitor to the Site and help us to personalize your experience when you arrive. Most web browsers are set to accept cookies. You can instruct your browser not to accept cookies. However, if you disable this function, you will not be able to use some of the features on our Site.
Web Beacons. Our Web pages and our e-mail newsletters may contain "web beacons." Web beacons allow us to count users that have visited a web page or opened an email that contains a web beacon and collect other types of aggregate information. Using this information, we are able to measure the effectiveness of our advertising and how visitors use our Site. This allows us to learn what pages are most attractive to our visitors, which parts of our Site are the most interesting and what kind of offers our Members like to see. Some of the web beacons that may be in place on our Site are used only by Nature Rocks, and other web beacons are from our vendors and advertisers who use this data to assist us in analyzing how our visitors use the Site. In addition, we have agreements with various affiliate networks that promote Nature Rocks on their affiliate websites. These affiliate advertisers may use web beacons in their advertisements to track users who click through from the affiliate website to the Site.
III. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
When you Register. When you register for the Nature Rocks newsletter no information is displayed on the Site.
We'll send you our email and newsletters. Nature Rocks may send you service-related announcements and emails from time to time. We may also use your information to send you e-newsletters, updates and communications about Nature Rocks. We may ask you which newsletters you wish to receive. You may change your newsletter preferences by opting-out of receiving future emails as described at the bottom of each communication from Nature Rocks.
Sweepstakes and Promotions. On occasion, we may offer sweepstakes and other promotions in conjunction with a sponsor. By participating in a promotion, you submit to that promotion's terms and conditions including providing us with permission, if required, to share your personally identifiable information with a particular sponsor.
Third Party Offers. On occasion, we are able to offer you special products or services through a relationship with a third party. In those cases, the offer may be brought to you by Nature Rocks and fulfilled by the third party. If you accept the offer, you will become a customer of the company that is fulfilling the offer and we will not have control over their use of the personally identifiable information that you provide to them when you accept the offer. In addition, your information may be shared with Nature Rocks partners. Prior to any such information sharing you will be provided the opportunity to opt-out of any such information sharing through an email notification.
Invite a Friend. Email addresses gathered through the Invite Friends feature for the purpose of transmitting your invitation for nature activities are not retained by Nature Rocks nor will they be shared with third-parties. We do not use this information for other purposes.
Testimonials and Feedback. On occasion, we may solicit testimonials or feedback from you for use in public promotions of Nature Rocks on the website, Facebook or other media. Any testimonials you submit will have uniquely identifiable information removed for any individuals referenced in the testimonials or feedback including last names, personal addresses or other unique information. None of the uniquely identifiable information in the testimonials is retained or shared for any purpose. First names and names of public locations such as parks may be retained for public use unless we receive a request otherwise. Your name and contact information may be retained for other communications but this information will not be shared with any third-parties.
Legal Matters; Safety. We may, without your consent, access and disclose your information, any communications sent or received by you, and any other information that we may have about you or your account as may be permitted or required by law (including, but not limited to, court order or subpoena), or to prevent or investigate suspected fraud, violations of our Terms of Service, or activity that appears to us to be illegal or may expose us to legal liability. Additionally, we may disclose your information in situations that we believe to be emergencies involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person or property if we believe that your information in any way relates to that threat.
Sale of Business or Assets. In the event that Nature Rocks, substantially all of its assets, or a line of business are acquired or merged with another company, personally identifiable information of our Members may be one of the assets sold or merged in connection with that transaction. Nature Rocks will notify users of the Site of such a change in ownership or transfer of assets by posting a notice on the Site.
Third Party Ad Servers. We may use third party advertising technology to serve ads when you visit our Site. For instance, we may use Quigo and Tacoda, among others, to provide text and banner advertisements on our Site and we may use Google AdSense, among others, to provide advertising in our e-newsletters. If your browser is set up to accept cookies, DoubleClick, Quigo, Google AdSense and some of Nature Rocks' advertisers and partners may place cookies or web beacons on your computer when you visit our Site or interact with our email messages. Please note that this happens whether or not you click on an advertisement placed by these companies. DoubleClick, Quigo, Google AdSense and Nature Rocks' advertisers and partners use cookies and web beacons according to their own privacy and security polices which you can find on their websites.
IV. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES, PRACTICES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Nature Rocks contains links to other sites. It is possible for you to receive information directly from our partners and other companies if you access them through a link on NatureRocks.org or if you go directly to their Websites. Once you are on their sites, any data that you supply to these partners, for example, to obtain information or buy products directly from them is beyond our reach and will be the responsibility of each of the linked-to entities and not Nature Rocks. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these Websites or any other sites linked to or referenced on our Site.
Security. Nature Rocks has multiple layers of security on its systems. We have implemented software and hardware security, including firewalls, data encryption, and private networks intended to protect your personally identifiable information from unauthorized access. We use firewalls and intrusion-detection devices that are designed to defend against hackers and notify us if any attempts are made to compromise our network. We regularly review additional software upgrades to enhance our security measures. However, despite our efforts, no system can completely guaranty that there will never be unauthorized access to your personally identifiable information, and your use of the Site indicates that you are willing to assume this risk.
A Note About International Users. The Nature Rocks Site is hosted in the United States. If you are using the Site from outside the United States, by providing your information to this Site, you are consenting to the transfer of your information to the United States for processing and maintaining in accordance with this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. You are also consenting to the application of United States law in all matters concerning this Site.
Children's Privacy. Nature Rocks does not encourage participation or visitation by children. Visitors who are known to be under the age of 16 are prohibited from becoming Nature Rocks Members. Nature Rocks does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 16.
Changes to the Privacy Policy. We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most recent version of the Privacy Policy will always be posted on the Site, with the "Effective Date" posted at the top of the Policy. We will inform you if we substantially modify the way we handle your personally identifiable information by posting a notice on the Site, and we will give you the opportunity to opt-out of such differing uses.
Contacting Us. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or the practices of this Site, please email us at info@naturerocks.org