Cookie Policy
How We Use Cookies on Our Website
Last Updated: January 3, 2025
Effective Date: January 3, 2025
What This Policy Covers
This Cookie Policy explains how Hidden Meadow School (“we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website at hhiddenmeadowschool.org. This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
Cookies can:
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Help you navigate between pages efficiently
- Remember information you’ve entered into forms
- Provide anonymous statistics about how our website is used
- Help us improve your experience on our site
What cookies cannot do:
- Access your files or personal information unless you provide it
- Carry viruses or install malware
- Identify you personally (most cookies are anonymous)
2. Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies on our website:
2.1 Essential Cookies Required
These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation, form submission, and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.
Important: Essential cookies do not require consent as they are necessary for the website to work. They are automatically set when you visit our site.
2.2 Analytics Cookies Optional
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting anonymous information. We use this data to improve our website and better serve families looking for outdoor preschool information.
We use Google Analytics, which sets the following cookies:
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number. Used to calculate visitor, session, and campaign data. | 2 years | |
| Used by Google Analytics 4 to persist session state and collect data about site usage. | 2 years | |
| Distinguishes users and stores information about how visitors use the website. | 24 hours | |
| Used to throttle the request rate to limit data collection on high traffic sites. | 1 minute |
2.3 Functional Cookies Optional
These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences (e.g., cookie consent choices, form inputs).
3. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
3.1 Website Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This helps us:
- Understand which pages are most popular
- See how visitors navigate through our site
- Identify technical issues or areas for improvement
- Measure the effectiveness of our content
- Understand our audience demographics (age ranges, interests, location)
Data collected by Google Analytics includes:
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- How you arrived at our site (search engine, direct link, referral)
- Device type, browser, and operating system
- General geographic location (city/region level, not precise location)
- Interactions with our site (clicks, scrolls, form interactions)
Important: Google Analytics data is anonymous. We cannot identify individual visitors. We have configured Google Analytics to anonymize IP addresses and have disabled data sharing with Google for advertising purposes.
3.2 Google Search Console
We use Google Search Console to monitor and maintain our website’s presence in Google Search results. This tool helps us:
- Understand how people find our website through search
- See which search terms bring visitors to our site
- Identify and fix technical issues
- Monitor website performance in search results
Note: Google Search Console does not set cookies on your browser. It analyzes data about search traffic from Google’s servers, not from tracking you individually.
3.3 Website Functionality
We may use functional cookies to:
- Remember your cookie consent preferences
- Remember information you’ve entered in contact forms
- Provide a better user experience across visits
4. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services we use:
4.1 Google Analytics (by Google LLC)
Provider: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Purpose: Website analytics and performance measurement
Data collected: Anonymous usage statistics, device information, approximate location
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
4.2 Other Third-Party Services
If you interact with embedded content on our site (e.g., videos, social media feeds), those third parties may set their own cookies. We do not control these cookies. Please review the privacy policies of these services:
- YouTube: Google Privacy Policy
- Facebook: Facebook Privacy Policy
- Instagram: Instagram Privacy Policy
5. Your Cookie Choices
You have several options to control and manage cookies on our website:
5.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, you’ll see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:
- Accept All: Allow all cookies including analytics
- Reject Non-Essential: Only allow essential cookies needed for basic site functionality
- Customize: Choose which categories of cookies to allow
5.2 Change Your Cookie Preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:
- Clicking the “Cookie Settings” link in our website footer
- Clearing your browser cookies and revisiting our site
- Using your browser’s privacy settings (see Section 5.3)
5.3 Browser Controls
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:
- Block all cookies
- Accept only first-party cookies (from our site, not third parties)
- Delete cookies after each browsing session
- Receive notifications when cookies are set
How to manage cookies in popular browsers:
- Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data | Learn more
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data | Learn more
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data | Learn more
- Microsoft Edge: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions | Learn more
Note: Blocking or deleting cookies may affect your experience on our website. Some features may not work properly, and you may need to re-enter information on forms.
5.4 Opt Out of Google Analytics
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by:
- Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Enabling “Do Not Track” in your browser settings (we honor Do Not Track signals)
- Blocking Google Analytics cookies through your browser settings
6. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (DNT) feature that sends a signal to websites requesting not to be tracked. We respect Do Not Track signals and will not track your activity when this setting is enabled.
When DNT is enabled:
- We will not load Google Analytics
- We will not set non-essential cookies
- Only essential cookies required for website functionality will be set
7. Cookie Duration
Cookies can be either session cookies or persistent cookies:
7.1 Session Cookies
These are temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser. We use session cookies for basic website functionality.
7.2 Persistent Cookies
These remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. The duration varies by cookie:
- Google Analytics cookies: Up to 2 years
- Cookie consent preferences: 12 months
- Functional cookies: Typically 30-90 days
8. Cookies and Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for adults (parents and guardians) researching preschool options. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.
The cookies we use collect anonymous website usage data only. They do not collect personal information that could identify a child. However, we encourage parents to supervise their children’s internet usage and use browser parental controls if needed.
9. International Data Transfers
Some of our third-party service providers (such as Google) may process cookie data in countries outside the United States. When this occurs:
- Data is transferred in accordance with applicable privacy laws
- Service providers are required to protect your data
- We have safeguards in place to protect your information
Google Analytics data may be processed in the United States or other countries where Google operates. Google is certified under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
10. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:
- Changes in our use of cookies
- New technologies or services we adopt
- Changes in privacy laws or regulations
- Feedback from users
When we make changes:
- We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
- Significant changes will be communicated via a notice on our website
- You may be asked to review and accept updated cookie preferences
11. More Information About Cookies
To learn more about cookies and online privacy, visit these independent resources:
- All About Cookies: www.allaboutcookies.org
- Network Advertising Initiative: www.networkadvertising.org
- Your Online Choices: www.youronlinechoices.com
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
Questions About Cookies?
Hidden Meadow School
Olympia, Washington
Email: Contact@hiddenmeadowschool.org
Phone: (360) 259-7196
We will respond to your inquiry within 5 business days.
Your Privacy Matters
We are committed to being transparent about our use of cookies. We only use cookies that help us improve your experience and understand how to better serve families looking for outdoor preschool in Olympia.
You are always in control of your cookie preferences and can change them at any time.