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…

CASE FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING

May 9, 2017 |

Bridging the Engagement Gap with Hands-On Teaching Overview The ongoing debate over the achievement gap in American schools has largely overlooked its underlying cause: the engagement gap. Somewhere between kindergarten and the senior year of high school, many students lose their natural love of…

Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Mar 17, 2017 |

By Sandra Woodard, RAFT Membership & Green Room Associate St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Ireland for over 1,000 years, but it was mostly a religious celebration of the Saint’s life and deeds. Today, many people of Irish ancestry in the U.S., and…

RAFT Prepares for New Leadership

Mar 9, 2017 | Comments Off

Grainger Marburg, CEO, Resigns SAN JOSE, CA, March 09, 2017 — The Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) Board of Directors announced that Grainger Marburg is resigning from his position as CEO effective April 14, 2017. During his tenure, he has successfully led RAFT in…

RAFT Partners with Lockheed Martin Space Systems during National Engineers Week

Feb 28, 2017 | Comments Off

Lockheed Martin Space Systems volunteers assemble 500 STEM kits that will help inspire 4,600 future engineers SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 27, 2017 – RAFT, Resource Area for Teaching, is the leading solution center helping educators to transform a child’s learning experience through hands-on education.…

RAFT Again Earns 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

Feb 13, 2017 | Comments Off

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 13, 2017 – RAFT – Resource Area for Teaching, the leading solution center helping educators to transform a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, is proud to announce earning the coveted 4-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and…

RAFT Colorado: Waste Diversion With a Purpose: Recycling Materials for Education

Feb 10, 2017 | Comments Off

BY JULIANA LYTKOWSKI ON FEBRUARY 1, 2017 Shaping the future of education, by recycling. On average, teachers spend about $500 of their own money on supplies for their classroom and students, and many companies and manufacturers unknowingly throw away items that could help alleviate…