The Build-It-Yourself mission is to inspire and guide the next generation of builders to use technology constructively. Mean machines and content that is disrespectful of others is strictly forbidden.

Safety:

Build-It-Yourself strives to NOT use 'inappropriate' images or vocabulary as defined by the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
http://ifea.net/cipa.pdf

The CIPA defines "harmful to minors" as:
Any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that –

  1. taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
  2. depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals;
  3. taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.
Build-It-Yourself philosophy on race, religion, and politics:
BIY strives to enforce values that encourage members to be open minded and constructive global citizens.

BIY does not promote any particular right or wrong position. Sometimes in storylines or examples, BIY may paint the extreme sides of a controversial issue and then ask members to think about a middle ground that works for them.

Permitted content or images:

  1. lazy socialists next to greedy capitalists
  2. nutty tree huggers next to mean meat eaters
  3. cold scientist next to head-in-the-clouds dreamer
  4. do-gooders next to evil-doers
  5. Wonder Chicken next to Super Rooster
Not permitted content or images:
  1. Picture of Donald Trump on a Donald Duck cartoon
  2. Poop emojis
  3. Guns or bombs

Build-It-Yourself webcast leaders will expel any member who uses inappropriate language, posts violent content, or disrupts a workshop. The parents of that member will be notified via email.

Privacy:

Build-It-Yourself does not:
1) publish last names or addresses or contact information.
2) share member information with anyone.
(We incorporate a 3rd party ecommerce solution.
We believe our ecommerce vendor is secure and trustworthy.)

Build-It-Yourself studies privacy/safety regulations and is constantly reviewing its compliance with those regulations. Parents are encouraged to contact us at
support@build-it-yourself.com)
to answer questions and concerns.

Parental Engagement

Parents are copied on all emails to members.

Parents are encouraged to sit in on our workshops and build with their kids.

Members are encouraged to discuss their projects with parents.

Letter to Parents Regarding Safety:
Dear Build-It-Yourself parents …
Some Build-It-Yourself workshops, including Minecraft 104 and Website Design, introduce your children to how the internet works. This knowledge can give your children opportunities to explore new worlds, but this knowledge also comes with certain risks. We will ask your children to add a page in their lab book on how to be a responsible internet citizen.

We will assume that if you choose to keep your children in our workshops, then Build-It-Yourself will not be responsible for what your children do outside of our workshops with the knowledge they gain in our workshops.
Thank you for your support.
Onward,
The Build-It-Yourself Team