RAFT Blog, News, and Events

RAFT’s AI Chatbot: A Smarter Way to Support Hands-On Learning

March 4, 2026

At RAFT, we’re always exploring new ways to help educators bring hands-on STEAM learning into the classroom. With support from the Cisco Foundation, RAFT launched an AI-enabled chatbot designed to help teachers confidently implement STEAM lessons and provide more personalized learning support for students. This tool acts like a digital teaching assistant, helping educators adapt…

A Legacy of Learning: The Guidry Foundation and RAFT’s Endowment Fund

January 26, 2026

For over three decades, RAFT has been fortunate to be supported by partners who believe deeply in the power of hands-on learning. Among them is The Mark & Carolyn Guidry Foundation, longtime champions of education, creativity, and opportunity for all students. Founded in 1994, the Guidry Foundation was established by Mark and Carolyn Guidry to…

Annual Fundraiser Recap: RAFT to the Future of STEAM Education

September 25, 2025

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, RAFT hosted its annual fundraising event: RAFT to the Future. Over 130 supporters were present at RAFT, which was transformed into a beautiful space for the special event for the night. That evening, we honored the individuals and organizations that have made a profound impact on RAFT and the education…

STEAM Dream Summer Camp 2025: A Season of Innovation, Discovery, and Fun

August 19, 2025

This August marks the exciting wrap-up of RAFT’s 2025 STEAM Dream Summer Camp and DreamBox season-our biggest yet! Over the course of eight action-packed weeks, we delivered more than 180 hours of hands-on STEAM programming, engaging TK-8 students from across the Bay Area in engineering challenges, storytelling adventures, and STEAM experimentation. With programs running across…

Members: Help us improve and win a $50 RAFT gift certificate!

Oct 19, 2021 | Comments Off

Your input last year led to many significant changes to improve the shopping experience at RAFT. Here’s how your feedback helped us: Members wanted more direction within the store. So RAFT added signage throughout the store with more signs to come! Members wanted to…

25 Years of Commitment: Anne Murphy!

Oct 18, 2021 | Comments Off

RAFT would like to give a HUGE congratulations and thank you to Anne Murphy for celebrating 25 years working at RAFT. Anne originally came to help out for only 6 weeks and stayed on the RAFT team as our accountant for the last 25…

2 New Kits for Early Childhood Educators (ECE)!

Oct 18, 2021 | Comments Off

RAFT has 2 new kits: Paper Sunflowers and Rolling Maze. These kits are the first in a series of kits specially geared for early childhood educators (ECE) and early elementary teachers. Paper Sunflowers Young learners practice motor skills and blend science, art, and math…

RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2021

Sep 23, 2021 | Comments Off

Congratulations to our 2021 STEAM Teachers of the Year, RAFT Heroes, RAFT Partner of the Year and RAFT Volunteer Award winners! Thank you for all you do for our students, our education community, and RAFT! STEAM Teachers of the Year Melissa NakamuraLagunita Elementary School…

2021 Found At RAFT Special Event

Sep 23, 2021 | Comments Off

On September 22, 2021, RAFT hosted it’s annual event, Found At RAFT. The resources that educators, parents, and students need for success can be Found at RAFT. During the virtual event, guests were able to learn more about RAFT, honor people and organizations that…

2021 Fall Event & Sale

Sep 15, 2021 | Comments Off

Join us at RAFT on Saturday, October 2, 9-4 pm for our outdoor, parking lot Fall Event & Sale that includes a full day of free and fun, hands-on STEAM learning activities for all K-12 children. We’ll be featuring our best-sellers like our hands-on…