RAFT Blog, News, and Events

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…

🏆 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…

STEAM in Action: RAFT Joins Synaptics for Bring Your Kids to Work Day

July 25, 2025

RAFT kicked off July with a hands-on, minds-on celebration of innovation by partnering with Synaptics for their Bring Your Kids to Work Day at the company’s San Jose campus. Synaptics employees brought their children to learn more about what their parents do and how STEM and STEAM skills power the technology all around us. RAFT…

Creative Reuse Center Established in Taipei

Nov 19, 2015 |

By Betty Ko, Director, Lovely Taiwan Foundation Tricycles made of chairs from bus and classroom In the center of a busy and bustling Taipei, lies a cleverly titled building called the Creative Reuse Center (CRC). The CRC is a place that’s based on creativity as…

My First Grade Classroom Essentials – An Inside Look at RAFT Activity Kits

Nov 12, 2015 |

By Ashley Estes, First Grade Teacher, St. Elizabeth Seton The school year is in full swing and I cannot believe I have started my fourth year a 1st grade teacher. Over the past few years I have been involved with RAFT and have been…

RAFT Collaborates With New Teacher Center on Science-Focused Professional Development Program for Bay Area Teachers

Nov 10, 2015 | Comments Off

Texas Instruments and Tech CU Support New Middle School NGSS Leadership Alliance Program November 10, 2016 – Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) has partnered with New Teacher Center (NTC) to strengthen science education in the Bay Area by creating a professional development program for lead…

RAFT Receives $60,000 From Silicon Valley High-Tech Company

Oct 30, 2015 | Comments Off

Altera Corporation hosted its third annual Altera Foundation Cup charity golf tournament in September to raise funds for Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT). RAFT serves 7,500 educators and 600,000 students each year in the Bay Area, striving to spark the love of learning for…

Beyond the Traditional Math

Oct 28, 2015 |

By Courtney Hunter, Resource Specialist As Common Core is being integrated in every classroom amongst all grade levels, it is leaving some parents and children feeling baffled, perplexed, and many times, lost. With the new California Common Core methods students have yet to learn…

RAFT Reaches 3 Million Cubic Feet of Donated Materials

Oct 15, 2015 | Comments Off

NetApp donates 700 cubic feet of material to RAFT, helping the non-profit reach 3 million cubic feet of donations to date. Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) reaches 3 million cubic feet of donated material in part thanks to FORTUNE 500 storage and data management company…