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…

Teacher Training at Luther Burbank School District

Aug 23, 2021 | Comments Off

On Monday, August 16, 2021, RAFT helped the Luther Burbank School District kick off the 2021-22 school year with a professional development session focusing on materials and makerspace teaching. This session is the first of many more engagements planned between the school and RAFT.…

Paying Tribute to Nigel Ball

Aug 6, 2021 | Comments Off

The RAFT family is sad to share the passing of our current board member and longtime friend and supporter, Nigel Ball. “During the many years that I had the joy of knowing Nigel, I found him to be a kindred spirit. He shared my…

Ramp It Up Event with RAFT’s Maker Mobile

Jul 29, 2021 | Comments Off

The RAFT Maker Mobile, sponsored by The Sharks Foundation and Western Digital, rolled onto the Milpitas School District campus on a cool July morning. About 50 summer school students joined RAFT’s Education facilitators, Qi Diaz, Mikey Ramot, and Mike Pollock for the Ramp It…

Have You Used Our Laser Engraver?

Jul 26, 2021 | Comments Off

Our laser engraver is available for use by approved RAFT members from Wednesdays through Fridays. Approved members are those that have taken the RAFT introductory laser workshop. We understand that it may have been a while since you last used a laser engraver, so if you…

RAFT Delivers 3 New STEAM Kits to Walden West

Jun 21, 2021 | Comments Off

Two weeks ago, the Walden West Team was able to play with three new STEAM Project Kits: The Electric-wind Generator, Bread Bag Parachute, The Articulated Leg. Each person was able to design, prototype and test their designs in preparation for their summer camps. Over 300…

TK-2 STEAM Kits for Hands-On Early Childhood Education

Jun 21, 2021 | Comments Off

RAFT has been fortunate to work with the very talented Jennifer Hunau, STEM Coordinator for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, in developing a series of 9 STEAM kits for over 6,000 TK-2 students. Pictured below are materials for 12,870 kits that were…