cisco-picture_smallSAN JOSE, CALIF. – September 28, 2016 – RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching, dedicated to helping educators transform a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, announces Cisco has surpassed the milestone of 30,000 volunteer hours with RAFT.  RAFT is elated to celebrate this milestone with Cisco. Cisco has been volunteering regularly with RAFT in California for nearly 10 years and in that time over  7000 Cisco employees have been involved. . This is the second major milestone RAFT has celebrated with Cisco.  In 2014 a Cisco volunteer group built RAFT’s 500,000th activity kit!

Every year volunteers at RAFT assemble thousands hands-on Activity Kits from upcycled materials, keeping the cost of hands-on teaching affordable.   These, ready-to-use Activity Kits take the prep work out of hands-on teaching because they come with all required materials and instructions to bring engaging science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) experiences to students.  Students learn better and are more engaged when they have a hands-on activity to help them grasp complex concepts.

Companies and organizations from a variety of industries volunteer at RAFT, having a fun team building activity while at the same time making a meaningful impact.

“The reason we volunteer is because a little effort on our part results in huge benefit on the part of the recipient of the activity kits we are creating,” says Paul Thayne of Cisco’s eService Training Team. Paul volunteered with the group that contributed to Cisco reaching the 30,000 RAFT volunteer hours milestone.   The group processed materials and assisted with assembly for the kit Scalloped Circle String Art, where colored string and simple cardboard shapes create designs based on intriguing mathematical patterns.  This helps students explore basic geometric concepts. “

“RAFT is honored to have such a long-standing relationship with Cisco.  Over the years, Cisco, volunteers have played an essential role in helping us provide affordable and inspirational materials to local educators,” said Grainger Marburg, RAFT CEO.

Find out more about RAFT and how to volunteer as a group or individual at www.raft.729solutions.com.

About RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching

RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching is a non-profit, resource solution to help educators transform a child’s learning experience through hands on education to one that inspires the joy and discovery of learning. Founded in 1994, RAFT focuses on providing educators of all types – classroom teachers, after school educators, homeschool educators, scout leaders, early care and education professionals – with effective, engaging, affordable hands-on learning resources aligned to national curriculum standards. RAFT, believes the best way to spark a love of learning for the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers, and creators is through hands-on learning. RAFT supports some 7,000 educators in enriching and improving the education of more than 550,000 students young year.

 

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