Welcome to Scout!
Scout is an AI chatbot designed to help you with your Project Earth project.
Before you start working with Scout on your Project Earth climate project, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about how to use this tool effectively and responsibly. Please read carefully though the below acceptable use policy.
At the end, we’ll ask you to complete a quick quiz before you can access and use Scout.
Scout Acceptable Use Policy
Age Requirement
You must be 13 years or older to use Scout.
This age requirement exists because:
- Scout is an AI tool that processes conversations, and data protection laws require users to be 13+
- The program is designed for students who can work independently on complex projects
- Your consent is required and we’ll let your parent/guardian know you’re using Scout too.
If you’re under 13: You can still participate in Project Earth! Talk to your teacher or parent about alternative ways to develop your climate project with adult guidance instead of using Scout.
What is Scout?
Scout is your AI guide for developing your climate, biodiversity, or sustainability project. Think of Scout as a mentor who asks great questions, helps you think through challenges, and guides you through the five stages of Project Earth – but Scout doesn’t do your work for you.
Scout is here to:
- Help you brainstorm and refine ideas
- Ask questions that deepen your thinking
- Guide you through research, design, prototyping, testing, and presentation
- Connect you to resources and examples
- Encourage you when things get tough
Scout is NOT here to:
- Write your presentations, reports, or scripts for you
- Make decisions about your project
- Complete your work
- Replace your own creative thinking
Your Responsibilities When Using Scout
1. Use Scout for Your Project Earth Work Only
Scout is designed specifically for climate, biodiversity, and sustainability projects.
Keep your conversations focused on:
- Developing your project through the five stages
- Problem-solving technical or design challenges
- Understanding climate science concepts
- Getting feedback on your ideas
- Planning your presentation
Don’t use Scout for:
- Other homework or assignments
- Personal problems or mental health concerns (talk to a trusted adult instead)
- Entertainment or off-topic conversations
- Anything unrelated to your Project Earth work
2. Keep Conversations Respectful and Appropriate
Scout is a professional learning tool. This means:
Do:
- Be polite and professional in how you communicate
- Ask thoughtful questions about your project
- Share your ideas and challenges honestly
- Engage seriously with Scout’s questions
Don’t:
- Use offensive, aggressive, or inappropriate language
- Try to trick Scout or test its limits
- Share or request inappropriate content
- Attempt to make Scout discuss topics outside its purpose
If you’re unsure whether something is appropriate, ask yourself: “Would I say this to a teacher helping me with my project?“
3. Protect Your Privacy and Others’
Your safety online matters. When talking to an AI like Scout, here’s what you need to know:
What you CAN share with Scout:
- Your first name and age
- General location (city/country)
- Details about your project
- Questions about climate science or your design process
What you should NEVER share with Scout:
- Your full name, address, or phone number
- Your school’s exact name or address
- Passwords or login details
- Personal information about family members, friends, or classmates
- Photos of yourself or others
- Any information that could identify your specific location
Important: Scout’s conversations are monitored to keep you safe and ensure appropriate use. Project Earth staff may review conversations to:
- Ensure student safety
- Verify appropriate use of the tool
- Improve Scout’s effectiveness
- Identify if students need additional support
4. Do Your Own Thinking and Work
This is probably the most important rule: Scout is a guide, not a ghost-writer.
The Right Way to Use Scout:
- “I’m stuck choosing between focusing on plastic waste or carbon emissions for my project. Can you help me think through the pros and cons of each?”
- “I’ve designed a water filtration prototype but I’m not sure what materials to use. What should I consider?”
- “Can you help me understand how to test my idea with real users?”
The Wrong Way to Use Scout:
- “Write my Stage 5 presentation script for me”
- “Give me a complete project idea I can just use”
- “Do my research and tell me what to write”
Remember: Colleges, universities, and employers value people who can think critically and solve problems. Scout helps you develop these skills—but only if you do the actual work yourself.
Academic Integrity: Using Scout to generate work you claim as your own (like having Scout write your presentation) is cheating and violates Project Earth’s standards. Your work should represent YOUR thinking, with Scout as a supportive guide.
Consequences of Misuse
We trust you to use Scout responsibly, but we also need to be clear about what happens if these guidelines aren’t followed:
First instance of misuse:
- You’ll receive a warning
- Your teacher (if school-based) or Project Earth staff will be notified
- You’ll need to review this policy again
- You can continue using Scout
Second instance of misuse:
- Your access to Scout will be suspended
- Your teacher and/or parent/guardian will be notified
- You’ll need to complete your project without Scout’s support
- Depending on severity, this may affect your Project Earth participation
Serious violations:
- Immediate suspension from Scout
- Project Earth leadership will be notified
- Your school (if applicable) will be informed
- May result in removal from Project Earth program
We don’t want any of this to happen! These consequences exist to protect you and all students using Scout. Use it well, and Scout will be an incredible asset to your climate leadership journey.
Parent/Guardian Acknowledgment
Please ask your parent/guardian to read this section with you. We’ll also email them letting them know you’re using Scout.
Parents/Guardians: Your student is about to use Scout, an AI guide for their Project Earth climate innovation work.
Please review this policy with them and discuss:
- The age requirement: Students must be 13 years or older to use Scout
- The educational purpose of Scout
- Appropriate online behaviour expectations
- What information should never be shared online
- That conversations are monitored for safety and appropriate use
By allowing your student to proceed, you acknowledge understanding that:
- Your student is 13 years or older
- Scout is an educational AI tool, not a replacement for adult supervision
- Conversations may be monitored for safety and quality assurance
- Your student is responsible for using Scout appropriately
- Misuse may result in consequences as outlined above
Student Commitment
By proceeding to use Scout, you confirm and agree that you:
- Are 13 years of age or older
- Have read and understood this Acceptable Use Policy
- Have discussed it with a parent or guardian (required for all users under 18)
- Understand the expectations for appropriate use
- Agree to use Scout responsibly for your Project Earth work
- Understand the consequences of misuse
- Know how to get help if you need it
Ready to transform your climate ideas into real-world solutions?
Complete this brief quiz to demonstrate your understanding, then start your journey with Scout. Let’s turn climate concern into climate action!
Ready to transform your climate ideas into real-world solutions?
Complete this brief quiz to demonstrate your understanding, then start your journey with Scout.
Let’s turn climate concern into climate action!
About Your Data and Playlab
What is Playlab?
Scout is built and operated by Playlab Education Inc., a US-based nonprofit educational technology organisation (501(c)(3)).
Where Your Data is Stored
Your data is stored in the United States:
- Server Location: Scout uses servers located in the United States of America
- Why: Playlab’s infrastructure is US-based
- Legal Protection: Even though your data is stored in the US, it’s protected by:
- UK data protection laws (UK GDPR) – because Project Earth is UK-based
- A legal agreement between Project Earth and Playlab (called a Data Processing Agreement)
- An international data transfer agreement (UK IDTA) that ensures your data has the same protections in the US as it would in the UK
- US educational privacy laws (FERPA and COPPA compliance)
What This Means for You
- Your rights are protected: You have the same rights over your data whether it’s stored in the UK or US
- Strong security: Your data is encrypted and secure
- No commercialisation: Playlab cannot use your data for advertising, marketing, or selling to other companies
- Educational purpose only: Your data is only used to provide Scout and improve the educational experience
- You’re in control: You (and your parents) can request access to or deletion of your data at any time
Who Else Processes Your Data?
Anthropic Inc. (the company that created Claude AI):
- Scout uses Claude AI to provide you with guidance
- When you send a message to Scout, it’s processed by Claude’s AI
- Anthropic doesn’t use your conversations to train their AI models
- Anthropic is also US-based and bound by strict data protection requirements