RAFT Blog, News, and Events

Featured Articles and News

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…

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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 Hires New Director of Development Mizgon Darby

Feb 1, 2017 | Comments Off on RAFT Hires New Director of Development Mizgon Darby

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 1, 2017 – RAFT – Resource Area for Teaching, the leading solution center to help educators in transforming a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, is excited to welcome our new Director of Development, Mizgon Darby. “In the last…

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RAFT Announces Cyber Security Learning Module and Design Challenge Kit

Jan 10, 2017 | Comments Off on RAFT Announces Cyber Security Learning Module and Design Challenge Kit

San Jose, CA, January 10, 2017: There is a growing need for a digitally literate workforce that uses technology in a safe and secure way. Through a generous grant from Symantec Corporation, the global leader in cyber security, RAFT has developed a cyber security…

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San Jose K-8 School Adopts RAFT Makerspace

Dec 15, 2016 | Comments Off on San Jose K-8 School Adopts RAFT Makerspace

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – December 15, 2016 – RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching) and members from the Orchard School community together created a new makerspace. With the help of Project Ember, the group of students, parents, teachers, school administrators, and RAFT employees transformed an…

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RAFT’s ‘Reason for the Seasons’ and ‘Time for Shadows’ Idea Sheets Help Students Understand What Causes Our Seasons

Nov 30, 2016 | Comments Off on RAFT’s ‘Reason for the Seasons’ and ‘Time for Shadows’ Idea Sheets Help Students Understand What Causes Our Seasons

Use Hands-On Activities to Teach Seasonal Variations SAN JOSE, CALIF. – November 30, 2016 – RAFT – Resource Area for Teaching, the leading solution center to help educators in transforming a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, announces the res 2016 is coming on December…

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RAFT Activity Teaches Programming Without the Need for Devices in Preparation for Computer Science Education Week

Nov 29, 2016 | Comments Off on RAFT Activity Teaches Programming Without the Need for Devices in Preparation for Computer Science Education Week

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – November 29, 2016 – RAFT – Computers are everywhere and success in the future will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works.  Unfortunately fewer than half of all schools teach computer science. The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction,…

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RAFT Celebrates Eric Welker’s 2016 Breakfast of Champions Award

Oct 27, 2016 | Comments Off on RAFT Celebrates Eric Welker’s 2016 Breakfast of Champions Award

An Achievement Honoring Outstanding Expanded Learning Partners SAN JOSE, CALIF. – October 27, 2016 – RAFT – Resource Area For Teaching, the leading solution center to help educators in transforming a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, announces Master Teacher of Education R&D, Eric…

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