RAFT Blog, News, and Events

Featured Articles and News

Bringing Hands-On STEAM Learning to San Diego Educators

May 18, 2025

RAFT recently had the pleasure of participating in the San Diego STEAM Educators Conference at the University of San Diego from May 16-17. The event brought together hundreds of teachers from across the state committed to advancing STEAM education across Southern California. Nancy McIntyre, RAFT’s new Community Engagement Manager, represented our team at the conference,…

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From Honoree to Advocate: A STEAM Award’s Ripple Effect

May 14, 2025

At RAFT, we believe in celebrating educators who bring STEAM to life through hands-on learning. Our STEAM Teachers and Administrators of the Year Awards honor those who go above and beyond-and sometimes, that recognition inspires something even bigger. Just ask Bryan Williams, a past STEAM Teacher of the Year award recipient who later nominated another…

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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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Engineering Design Challenge: Cat Care

Mar 9, 2021 | Comments Off on Engineering Design Challenge: Cat Care

Students engage in engineering challenges created and facilitated by RAFT staff that take advantage of household materials and/or use RAFT supplied materials. Challenges can be live or asynchronous. RAFT will showcase student design solutions on our social media platforms. This is a great way…

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RAFT Spring Sale

Feb 22, 2021 | Comments Off on RAFT Spring Sale

Book Your Appointment today!

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Featured: Pratik’s Dream Playground Project

Jan 13, 2021 | Comments Off on Featured: Pratik’s Dream Playground Project

We love inspiring the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and creators! Here’s a young engineer at work: Pratik Patel, a 2nd grader from the San Ramon Valley School District, took part in RAFT’s Dream Playground Design Challenge program. Pratik built a dream playground…

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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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