Thank you for joining the YSI Nature Network and supporting the Youth Science Institute (“YSI”). Membership contributions help YSI provide hands-on science education, care for our Animal Ambassadors, and create meaningful opportunities for children and families to connect with nature.

These Membership Terms explain how YSI Nature Network memberships, payments, renewals, cancellations, and benefits work. By enrolling in a YSI Nature Network membership, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.

1. Membership Eligibility

YSI Nature Network memberships are available to individuals and households interested in supporting YSI’s mission.

Memberships are associated with the individual or household identified during enrollment and may not be transferred, resold, or shared outside that household unless YSI provides written permission.

Members must provide accurate and current contact and payment information. Members are responsible for notifying YSI if their name, email address, mailing address, or other membership information changes.

Anyone submitting a membership payment must be at least 18 years old or have authorization from a parent, guardian, or authorized payment-account holder.

2. Membership Levels

YSI offers multiple Nature Network membership levels with different contribution amounts and benefits.

Current membership levels, pricing, and benefits are listed on the Become a YSI Member webpage. The benefits associated with a membership are based on the membership level selected and successfully paid for by the member.

Membership benefits may include:

• Priority Summer Camp registration
• A Summer Camp discount
• Discounts on eligible YSI weekend events
• Discounts on eligible YSI merchandise
• Animal Ambassador update emails
• Digital membership identification
• Member gifts or supporter kits
• Recognition opportunities
• Virtual member experiences
• Behind-the-scenes Animal Care experiences
• Other benefits described for the selected membership level

Some benefits are available immediately, while others require a specified period of active membership or advance scheduling.

3. When Membership Begins

Membership begins on the date YSI receives the member’s first successful membership payment.

After enrollment and payment processing, members will receive a membership confirmation email containing information such as:

• The member’s membership level
• Membership start date
• Personal membership ID
• Membership benefits
• Applicable discount codes
• Benefit eligibility or scheduling information
• Instructions for managing the membership
• YSI contact information

Members should contact YSI if they do not receive their membership confirmation within three to five business days.

4. Monthly Memberships and Automatic Renewal

Monthly memberships are recurring memberships that automatically renew each month using the payment method provided during enrollment.

By selecting a monthly membership, the member authorizes Donorbox and its payment-processing partners to charge the selected membership amount to the payment method provided each month until the membership is cancelled.

Monthly membership charges generally occur on or near the same calendar date as the original membership payment. The exact processing date may vary because of weekends, holidays, payment-processing times, or circumstances outside YSI’s control.

Monthly members do not need to enroll again each month. The membership remains active as long as recurring payments continue successfully or the member remains within an applicable grace period.

A member may cancel a monthly membership at any time according to the cancellation instructions provided below.

5. Annual Memberships

Annual memberships are paid in full at the beginning of the membership term and remain active for 12 months from the date of the successful annual payment.

Unless explicitly stated during checkout, an annual membership does not automatically renew. Annual members must submit a new annual membership payment to continue their membership for another 12-month term.

YSI may send annual members courtesy renewal reminders before their membership expiration date. These reminders may be sent approximately:

• 30 days before expiration
• 7 days before expiration
• On or near the expiration date

Failure to receive a reminder does not automatically extend the membership term.

If an annual membership is not renewed, the membership becomes inactive at the end of the 12-month term. A former member may enroll again at any time, subject to the membership levels, pricing, benefits, and terms then in effect.

Important: If Donorbox is actually configured to automatically renew annual payments, this section must be rewritten before publication to clearly disclose annual automatic renewal and cancellation terms.

6. Failed Monthly Payments and Grace Period

If a recurring monthly payment is unsuccessful, the membership will enter a 14-day grace period.

During the grace period:

• The membership will be identified as having a payment issue rather than being immediately cancelled.
• The member may update their payment information or resolve the unsuccessful payment.
• Existing membership benefits may remain temporarily available.
• Benefits that require consecutive successful payments may be placed on hold until the payment issue is resolved.
• YSI or Donorbox may send the member instructions for updating their payment information.

If the payment issue is resolved within the 14-day grace period, the membership will return to active status and the member’s original membership start date and consecutive-membership history will be maintained.

If the payment issue is not resolved within 14 days, the membership may become inactive. Unused discounts, ongoing access benefits, and benefits that have not yet been earned or fulfilled will no longer be available.

YSI may make reasonable exceptions when a delay results from a documented technical or payment-processing error.

7. Cancelling a Monthly Membership

Members may cancel a recurring monthly membership at any time through their Donorbox donor account or by contacting YSI at info@ysi-ca.org.

YSI recommends submitting cancellation requests before the next scheduled payment date to help prevent an additional charge from being processed.

After cancellation:

• No additional monthly membership payments will be intentionally collected.
• The membership will generally remain active through the end of the period already paid for.
• Cancellation does not automatically refund a payment that has already been processed.
• Unused discounts and ongoing membership benefits expire when the paid membership period ends.
• Benefits that have already been fulfilled do not need to be returned.
• Benefits that have not yet been earned or fulfilled may be cancelled.

Members who enroll online must be provided with an accessible online cancellation method. Donorbox provides recurring donors with account tools for managing their donations, but YSI should also ensure that its confirmation email clearly explains how members can cancel.

Please allow three to five business days for YSI to process cancellation requests submitted directly to staff. A cancellation is not final until it has been processed through Donorbox or confirmed by YSI.

8. Refunds

Membership payments are generally nonrefundable once processed.

YSI may approve a full or partial refund in circumstances including:

• A duplicate charge
• An incorrect charge
• A payment-processing error
• An unauthorized transaction reported promptly
• An exceptional circumstance approved by YSI

Cancelling a membership stops future recurring payments but does not automatically refund a payment that was successfully processed before cancellation.

Refund requests must be submitted to info@ysi-ca.org within 30 days of the payment in question. Approval of a refund is subject to YSI’s review and any applicable payment-processor rules.

If a membership payment is refunded, disputed, or reversed, YSI may adjust the member’s status and withdraw benefits that were associated with that payment but have not yet been used or fulfilled.

9. Benefits Available Upon Activation

Most standard membership benefits become available once enrollment and the first successful payment have been processed.

Depending on the membership level, immediately available benefits may include:

• Priority access to eligible Summer Camp registration
• Applicable Summer Camp discounts
• Discounts on eligible paid YSI weekend events
• Discounts on eligible YSI merchandise
• Animal Ambassador update emails
• A digital membership card or membership ID
• Member communications and special announcements

Receiving a membership ID or discount code does not guarantee program availability, event admission, merchandise availability, or Summer Camp enrollment.

10. Benefits Requiring Consecutive Membership

Certain gifts, experiences, and special benefits require a member to maintain an active membership for a specified number of consecutive months.

For members paying monthly:

• Eligibility is based on consecutive successful monthly membership payments.
• A payment issue resolved within the 14-day grace period will not normally reset the member’s eligibility progress.
• Eligibility may be paused while a payment remains unresolved.
• Cancellation or an unresolved failed payment ends progress toward benefits that have not yet been earned.
• A member must remain active at the qualifying membership level when the benefit becomes available.

For members paying annually:

• A successful full annual payment satisfies the consecutive-month payment requirement for benefits included in the selected membership level.
• Eligible gifts and experiences may begin being arranged after enrollment and membership processing.
• Scheduling, fulfillment, availability, and other benefit conditions still apply.

YSI will use the benefit eligibility timelines published on the Become a YSI Member webpage at the time of enrollment.

11. Member Gifts and Supporter Kits

Physical membership gifts and supporter kits are subject to availability.

Members may be asked to provide or confirm:

• A mailing address
• A preferred pickup location
• Clothing or gift size, when applicable
• Other information necessary to fulfill the benefit

YSI is not responsible for items delivered to an address entered incorrectly by the member. Replacement of lost, stolen, returned, or damaged items will be handled at YSI’s discretion.

Membership gifts:

• Have no cash value
• Cannot be exchanged for cash
• May not be replaced with another item
• May vary slightly from promotional photographs
• May be substituted with an item of reasonably comparable type or value if the original item becomes unavailable

Unless otherwise stated, members are eligible for each applicable physical membership gift once per membership year, not once per monthly payment.

12. Member Experiences

Virtual Meet the Animals programs, Animal Care experiences, tours, and other special member experiences are subject to:

• Staff and animal availability
• Scheduling restrictions
• Program capacity
• Animal welfare needs
• Weather, facility, and safety conditions
• Age or supervision requirements
• YSI’s participant conduct and safety rules

An experience may need to be rescheduled, modified, substituted, or cancelled if YSI determines that doing so is necessary for animal welfare, participant safety, staffing, facility operations, or circumstances outside YSI’s reasonable control.

Live animals cannot be guaranteed for a particular experience. Animal participation is always determined by YSI staff based on the animal’s health, behavior, comfort, and welfare.

Member experiences have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for a refund or credit unless YSI states otherwise.

13. Summer Camp Benefits

Summer Camp benefits are subject to the registration dates, capacity limits, eligibility requirements, and policies of the applicable camp season.

Priority registration provides an opportunity to register before general registration opens, but it does not guarantee placement in a particular camp, week, location, or age group.

Unless otherwise stated:

• The camp discount applies to one eligible week of Summer Camp for one child per membership year.
• The membership must be active when the discount is used.
• The discount must be applied according to YSI’s registration instructions.
• The discount cannot be applied retroactively to a completed purchase.
• The discount cannot be exchanged for cash.
• The discount cannot be combined with another promotion or discount unless YSI expressly permits it.
• Standard Summer Camp registration, cancellation, transfer, and refund policies continue to apply.

14. Weekend Event Benefits

Membership discounts apply only to paid YSI weekend events identified as membership-eligible.

Event registration is first-come, first-served and subject to capacity. Membership does not guarantee admission to an event.

Unless YSI states otherwise:

• The membership must be active on the event date.
• Advance registration may be required.
• The discount cannot be applied retroactively.
• The discount cannot be exchanged for cash.
• Event-specific cancellation, transfer, and refund policies continue to apply.
• Certain fundraisers, partner events, private events, or specially priced activities may be excluded.

15. Merchandise Discounts

Membership merchandise discounts apply only to eligible merchandise sold directly by YSI.

The merchandise discount:

• Requires an active membership
• May require presentation of a membership ID or use of a member discount code
• Is subject to product availability
• Does not apply to taxes, shipping, or other fees unless stated otherwise
• Cannot be exchanged for cash
• Cannot be applied retroactively
• Cannot be combined with other promotions unless YSI permits it
• May exclude fundraising items, limited releases, partner merchandise, or specially priced products

16. Membership Identification and Discount Codes

Membership IDs and discount codes are provided for use by the member or household associated with the membership.

Members may not:

• Sell or publicly distribute a membership code
• Share a code outside their eligible household
• Use a code after the membership becomes inactive
• Use a benefit in a manner inconsistent with its stated terms

YSI may deactivate or replace a membership ID or discount code if it is lost, compromised, publicly distributed, or misused.

Misuse of membership benefits may result in benefit cancellation or membership termination.

17. Upgrades and Downgrades

Members interested in changing their membership level should contact YSI.

Membership upgrades generally take effect after the first successful payment at the new membership level. Membership downgrades generally take effect with the member’s next payment period.

Because changes may affect payment amounts and benefit eligibility, YSI may review tier changes individually.

Unless YSI approves an exception:

• A member must be active at the required membership level when a tier-specific benefit is earned.
• Benefits already fulfilled are not affected by a later downgrade.
• Benefits that have not yet been earned or fulfilled may be adjusted after a downgrade.
• An upgrade does not automatically provide multiple versions of the same annual gift or benefit.
• YSI will determine whether previous consecutive membership time applies toward a newly selected higher-tier benefit.

YSI will explain any change in payment amount or recurring-payment authorization before implementing a requested membership change.

18. Membership Communications

Members may receive operational communications necessary to administer their membership, including:

• Membership confirmations
• Payment and renewal notices
• Failed-payment notifications
• Cancellation confirmations
• Benefit instructions
• Discount information
• Scheduling communications
• Material changes to membership terms or benefits

These messages are considered membership administration communications and may still be sent even if the member unsubscribes from general promotional emails.

Members may separately unsubscribe from optional newsletters or promotional communications using the unsubscribe link provided in those messages.

Members are responsible for keeping their email address current and checking spam or junk folders for membership messages.

19. Changes to Membership Pricing or Benefits

YSI may modify membership levels, prices, benefits, eligibility requirements, or these Membership Terms when reasonably necessary.

Whenever practical:

• Changes affecting current members will be communicated in advance.
• Price changes to an automatically renewing membership will be clearly disclosed before the new price is charged.
• Material changes will not be applied retroactively to take away a benefit a member has already earned.
• Current members will be given information about how a change affects their membership and how to cancel if they do not wish to continue.

Membership benefits offered during a future renewal period may differ from those offered during the member’s current term.

20. Suspension or Termination by YSI

YSI may suspend or terminate a membership in circumstances including:

• Unresolved payment failure
• Payment reversal or chargeback
• Fraud or unauthorized account activity
• Abuse or misuse of membership benefits
• Sharing or resale of discount codes
• Unsafe, threatening, discriminatory, or seriously disruptive conduct
• Violation of YSI policies
• Conduct that threatens participants, staff, volunteers, animals, property, or operations

When appropriate, YSI will notify the member and explain the effective date of suspension or termination.

Refunds following a suspension or termination are not guaranteed and will depend on the circumstances.

21. Program Changes and Circumstances Outside YSI’s Control

YSI may modify, postpone, relocate, substitute, or cancel a membership activity because of:

• Animal health or welfare needs
• Severe weather
• Natural disasters
• Public-health conditions
• Facility closures
• Staffing limitations
• Government requirements
• Safety concerns
• Technology interruptions
• Other circumstances outside YSI’s reasonable control

YSI will make reasonable efforts to provide notice and, when appropriate, an alternative experience. Membership does not guarantee that every advertised activity will remain available throughout the membership year.

22. Tax-Deductibility and Receipts

YSI is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

A membership contribution may be tax-deductible only to the extent permitted by law. The value of goods, services, discounts, admission, gifts, or other benefits received in connection with a membership may reduce the tax-deductible portion of the payment.

Members should retain their Donorbox receipt and consult a qualified tax professional regarding their individual circumstances. YSI does not provide individual tax advice.

YSI should have its accountant determine the fair-market value of each tier’s benefits and ensure that required disclosures appear on receipts. The IRS requires a written disclosure for certain payments over $75 when the donor receives goods or services in return. IRS substantiation and disclosure requirements

23. Privacy and Payment Security

YSI collects and uses member information to:

• Process and administer memberships
• Provide membership benefits
• Communicate with members
• Maintain financial and participation records
• Improve YSI programs and supporter engagement
• Comply with legal and financial obligations

Payments are processed through Donorbox and its payment-processing partners. YSI does not store complete payment-card information in its membership tracking spreadsheet.

Member information may also be processed through services YSI uses for membership administration, such as its email communication and workflow-automation platforms.

YSI will handle member information according to its Privacy Policy. A link to YSI’s Privacy Policy should be included here:

[View YSI’s Privacy Policy]

24. Questions and Membership Assistance

Questions about memberships, benefits, payments, cancellations, or member information may be directed to:

Youth Science Institute
Email: info@ysi-ca.org
Phone: 408-356-4945
Website: www.ysi-ca.org

Please include the member’s name and membership ID when requesting assistance. Members should never send full credit-card or bank-account information by email.

25. Acceptance of These Terms

By submitting a YSI Nature Network membership payment, the member confirms that they:

• Have reviewed these Membership Terms
• Understand the selected membership price and payment frequency
• Authorize recurring charges if selecting a monthly membership
• Understand how to cancel a recurring membership
• Understand that benefits are subject to eligibility, availability, and program-specific requirements
• Agree to YSI’s applicable participant, registration, and privacy policies