For parents and guardians
Terms of Use
These terms explain the responsibilities families and team administrators accept when using Maple to organize physical pen-pal exchanges.
Last updated: August 3, 2026
1. Agreement to these terms
By creating an account, accepting a team invitation, or using Maple, you agree to these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the service.
2. An adult-managed service
Maple accounts are for parents, legal guardians, and other adults authorized to manage a child's participation. Children must not create or control an account. The account holder is responsible for supervising every child's participation and all physical mail exchanged through a Maple match.
3. Accounts and family information
- You must provide accurate account and family information and keep it current.
- You must protect your password and promptly report suspected unauthorized access.
- You confirm that you have authority to provide information about each child you add.
- You are responsible for reviewing the mailing address before every exchange.
4. Private teams and administrators
A team administrator can invite or remove members, manage participating children, create matches, and adjust proposed pairings. Families may belong to more than one team. Team administrators must use family information only to operate the team and must respect the privacy of every member.
An invitation is intended only for its recipient. Do not publish or forward a private invitation or allow another person to use your account.
5. Matches and physical letters
Maple suggests matches using factors such as age, sibling relationships, and recent match history. A match is a coordination tool, not a guarantee of compatibility, delivery, timing, or response.
- Adults must supervise letter writing, addressing, postage, and mailing.
- Do not include money, gifts, prohibited items, or additional sensitive information.
- Only confirm a letter as sent or received when that event has actually occurred.
- Follow postal rules and any additional safety expectations set by the team.
6. Safety and acceptable conduct
You may not use Maple to:
- harass, threaten, deceive, exploit, or endanger another person;
- share another family's address or private information outside the active exchange;
- send unlawful, discriminatory, sexual, violent, or otherwise harmful material;
- access another account, scrape data, disrupt the service, or bypass security controls; or
- use a team or its member information for advertising, fundraising, or unrelated contact.
Stop an exchange and contact the team administrator if anything feels unsafe. For an immediate risk, contact the appropriate local authority.
7. Service communications
Maple may send essential emails about account confirmation, invitations, matches, mailing confirmations, privacy, security, or changes to the service. These operational messages are part of providing Maple and are not marketing emails.
8. Availability and responsibility
Maple is provided on an "as available" basis. We work to keep it useful and secure, but cannot promise uninterrupted access, postal delivery, or the conduct of team members. To the extent permitted by law, Maple is not responsible for indirect losses or for the contents, handling, delay, loss, or delivery of physical mail between families.
9. Suspension and ending use
You may stop using Maple at any time. A team administrator may remove a member from a team. Maple may restrict or close an account when necessary to protect families, investigate misuse, comply with law, or enforce these terms. Privacy and record-retention obligations may continue after an account is closed.
10. Changes and questions
We may update these terms as Maple changes. We will provide reasonable notice of material changes and may ask you to accept revised terms. Questions about these terms can be sent through Maple's support channel when it becomes available.