RAFT Blog, News, and Events

Featured Articles and News

DreamBox Impact Series: Milpitas Unified School District

April 1, 2025

Engaging EL and SPED Learners Through Hands-On STEAM For the past two summers, RAFT has partnered with Milpitas Unified School District to bring hands-on STEAM learning to the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) summer program. This past summer, 230 fourth- through sixth-grade Special Education (SPED) and English Learner (EL) students became environmental engineers-designing water filtration…

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Bringing Stories to Life: RAFT’s Intersession Program at Northwood Elementary

March 18, 2025

This winter, Northwood Elementary students in Berryessa School District embarked on a creative journey through RAFT’s three-day Intersession program. Designed to spark imagination and hands-on learning, the program engaged 66 students in grades K-5 in the art of puppet-making, storytelling, and performance, culminating in a special showcase for families. Student-made marionette puppets displayed with crafting…

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DreamBox Impact Series: Oak Grove School District

February 27, 2025

Empowering Newcomers Through Hands-On STEAM Learning In Summer 2024, students at Oak Grove School District‘s Newcomer Summer Academy embarked on an innovative hands-on STEAM adventure. Through RAFT’s creative reuse materials and engaging activity kits, 75 students explored the mysteries of space while strengthening their English language skills, guided by 3 dedicated teachers. Hands-on learning is…

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Sparking Curiosity through Hands-On Learning with Jeffrey and Maureen Fox

February 26, 2025

For over 30 years, RAFT has provided resources and support to local educators and students. RAFT’s commitment to hands-on learning for STEAM subjects has evolved to include activities such as STEAM Project Kits, as well as programs like our Makerspace and Maker Mobile activities, and most recently a STEAM Dream Summer Camp for students around…

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A Successful Voyage

Sep 24, 2020 | Comments Off on A Successful Voyage

On September 23, 2020 the SS RAFT took sail. During the virtual event, guests were able to learn more about RAFT, honor people and organizations that have had a profound impact on the education community, and learn what RAFT is doing to support joy…

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RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2020

Sep 23, 2020 | Comments Off on RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2020

Congratulations to our 2020 STEAM Teachers of the Year, RAFT Heroes, and RAFT Volunteer Award winners! Thank you for all you do for our students, our education community, and RAFT! STEAM Teachers of the Year Meredith JonesMission Park Elementary STEAM Teacher of the Year…

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Welcome to Our New Website

Jul 26, 2020 | Comments Off on Welcome to Our New Website
New RAFT home page

When you visited www.raft.net you probably noticed a change. Surprise! We are happy to announce that RAFT has a new website!  2020 seems to be the year of changes, and RAFT is no exception. We are excited about this good change.  For the past…

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A Message of Solidarity from RAFT

Jun 4, 2020 |

To our RAFT Community: As we all know, these are unprecedented times: a pandemic crisis infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands, a collapsing economy and unemployment not seen since the Great Depression, and now a new wave of social unrest resulting from another…

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Support RAFT: Celebrating 25 years and Beyond!

Nov 21, 2019 |

Donate Here RAFT is approaching the end of its 25th year, and we have a lot to share with you! This past summer we completed a 2nd year of our Infinity STEAMED Summer School, where  50 students spent five weeks at RAFT learning about…

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RAFT Welcomes New CEO, Jason Morrella

Sep 24, 2019 |

Jason Morrella, RAFT CEO SAN JOSE, CA, September 24, 2019 –  Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT), a non-profit organization and leading provider of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) based hands-on learning for 25 years headquartered in San Jose, is delighted to announce…

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