Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Camp Europe E.V. ("Camp Europe", "we", "our", "us") is a registered non-profit association under German law (Vereinsregister Amtsgericht Hamburg, VR 19970), with registered address at Bahrenfelder Steindamm 22, 22761 Hamburg, Germany. We operate the website camp-europe.com and the Camp Europe platform (the "Platform").

We are the data controller responsible for your personal data. We are committed to protecting your privacy and processing your personal data only in ways that comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable German data protection law (BDSG).

2. What Data We Collect

2.1 Data you provide directly

• Account registration: Full name, email address, date of birth, nationality, phone number, gender, and password.
• Application data: Address, educational background, employment history, language skills, motivation statements, availability dates, dietary requirements, and medical information you choose to disclose.
• Document uploads: Passport copy, criminal record check, First Aid certificate, medical forms, TEFL certificate, and any other documents required for program participation.
• Payment information: Transaction reference numbers. We do not store full payment card details — all payments are processed by certified third-party payment processors.
• Communications: Messages, emails, and correspondence you send to us.

2.2 Data collected automatically

• IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and pages visited (via server logs and analytics).
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 7).

3. How We Use Your Data

We process your personal data only for the following purposes and on the following legal bases:

• Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR): To process your application, facilitate your placement, and administer your participation in Camp Europe programs.
• Legal obligations (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR): To comply with tax, accounting, and other legal requirements.
• Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR): To prevent fraud, ensure platform security, improve our services, and communicate service-related updates.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR): To send you marketing communications and newsletters, where you have explicitly opted in. You may withdraw consent at any time.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties for commercial purposes.

4. Who We Share Your Data With

We may share your personal data with:

• Host Camps: Where necessary to facilitate your placement (e.g., your name, arrival date, role, dietary requirements, and emergency contact information).
• Service providers: Including our hosting provider (Supabase), email service providers, payment processors, and analytics tools — all under appropriate data processing agreements.
• Authorities: Where required by law or legal process.

All third-party service providers are required to process your data only on our instructions and in compliance with applicable data protection law.

5. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers are located outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Where personal data is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with Chapter V of the GDPR, including Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

• Application data is retained for up to 3 years after your last interaction with Camp Europe, to enable future applications and comply with legal obligations.
• Financial records are retained for 10 years in accordance with German commercial law (HGB §257).
• Data no longer required for the above purposes is securely deleted.
• You may request earlier deletion in accordance with your rights (see Section 8), subject to any overriding legal obligations.

7. Cookies & Tracking

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies: Required for the Platform to function (e.g., session management, authentication). Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the Platform. We use anonymised data only. Require your consent.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences. Require your consent.

You may manage your cookie preferences at any time via the cookie banner or the footer link on our website. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal.

8. Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@campeurope.net. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include encrypted data storage, secure HTTPS connections, access controls, and regular security reviews. However, no transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are directed at individuals aged 19 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under the age of 18. If you believe a minor has submitted personal data to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting a notice on our website or by email. Continued use of the Platform after notification constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.