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…

Arista Funds RAFT Makerspace Build at Local Elementary School

Oct 20, 2022 | Comments Off

With its goal to provide educators with STEAM learning resources, Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT), a non-profit organization founded in 1994, organized a makerspace build for the Kathryn Hughes Elementary School in Santa Clara. RAFT believes that makerspaces are a great way to encourage…

RAFT Participates in Viva EscuelaSJ

Oct 12, 2022 | Comments Off

October is International Walk to School month! The CDC recommends that children ages 3 through 5 years need to be active throughout the day, while children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 need to be active for 60 minutes every day (see here for…

2022 Fall Sale & Membership Drive

Oct 2, 2022 | Comments Off

As we were welcomed by cooler temperatures and falling leaves, RAFT held its annual Membership Drive on October 1st and 2nd, 2022. On Saturday, RAFT brought out its best and deeply discounted items from the store for a Parking Lot Sale open to the…

RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2022

Sep 21, 2022 | Comments Off

Congratulations to our 2022 STEAM Teachers of the Year, RAFT Heroes, RAFT Volunteer Awardees, and RAFT Partner of the Year! Thank you for all you do for our educators, students, our community, and RAFT! STEAM Teachers of the Year Kim Brown STEAM Teacher, Raymond…

CSI:RAFT 2022 Annual Fundraiser

Sep 21, 2022 | Comments Off

On September 21, 2022, RAFT hosted its annual fundraising event. This year’s event, CSI:RAFT, highlighted what resources are needed to have an engaging classroom. We had over 100 in-person attendees while 20 joined us online. During the hybrid event, guests were able to learn…

The RAFT Educator Workroom has a new look!

Sep 17, 2022 | Comments Off

On September 17, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley and volunteers from DPR Construction spent the day at RAFT remodeling our Educator Workroom. The program was kicked off by Valentina Sanchez of DPR, Ryan Monger and Victoria Chang of Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, and Jason Morrella…