RAFT Blog, News, and Events

Featured Articles and News

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…

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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…

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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…

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🏆 RAFT Wins Double Gold in Bay Area Parent’s 2025 Best of the Best Awards!

July 29, 2025

RAFT is proud to announce that our STEAM Dream Summer Camp has been awarded Gold in two categories in Bay Area Parent Magazine’s 2025 Best of the Best Awards: 🥇 Best Day Camp – Silicon Valley 🥇 Best Science & Technology Camp – Silicon Valley This exciting recognition reflects the strength and impact of RAFT’s…

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50 Teachers from the Salinas City Elementary School District Build Car On A Roll Kits

Jun 15, 2021 | Comments Off on 50 Teachers from the Salinas City Elementary School District Build Car On A Roll Kits

It was a fun-packed, fast-paced day at Boronda Meadows Elementary School in Salinas on Wednesday, June 9th! Nearly 50 teachers from the Salinas City Elementary School District participated in a professional learning opportunity (PLO) arranged by Julie Stephens-Carrillo from Hartnell College. This PLO serves…

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Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7, 2021 | Comments Off on Teacher Appreciation Week

Saturday, May 8:  Do teachers ever fully retire? If you were to ask these teachers they would say no! RAFT relies heavily on volunteers to help make our resources accessible to the education community at low cost. On average around 6,000 volunteers support RAFT…

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Thanking RAFT Volunteers: Jean and Wayne

Apr 27, 2021 | Comments Off on Thanking RAFT Volunteers: Jean and Wayne

For 27 years, volunteers have played an important role at RAFT. Because of our volunteers, RAFT is able to make our resources available to the education community for affordable prices.  An example of volunteers playing an important role at RAFT is Jean and Wayne…

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Remembering Charles Geschke: Adobe Founder and RAFT Hero

Apr 22, 2021 | Comments Off on Remembering Charles Geschke: Adobe Founder and RAFT Hero

It is with deep sadness that RAFT marks the passing of Dr. Charles “Chuck” M. Geschke, co-founder of Adobe and RAFT STEAM Hero. Dr. Geschke founded Adobe with Dr. John Warnock in 1982 and changed how we share, create, and interact with information forever. …

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Engineering Design Challenge: Leprechaun Trap

Apr 6, 2021 | Comments Off on Engineering Design Challenge: Leprechaun Trap

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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Lagunita STEAM Night Highlights

Apr 6, 2021 | Comments Off on Lagunita STEAM Night Highlights

The Virtual STEAM Night at Lagunita Elementary School (Salinas, CA) held on Thursday March 4, 2021 was a really great event! Nearly 100 families participated in a 1-hour STEAM lesson focused on RAFT’s Car on a Roll STEAM project kit. Students assembled the cars…

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