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…

17+ Years With RAFT Store!

Jun 29, 2022 | Comments Off

by Arlyne Nava Introducing Lilia At RAFT Store Meet Lilia Mata Vazquez, an engagement coordinator who’s been with RAFT Store for 17 years. When Lilia and her sister were both job searching through an employment agency, her sister was placed first. That’s when a…

RAFT STEAM Teachers of the Year 2022

May 31, 2022 | Comments Off

Congratulations to our 2022 STEAM Teachers of the Year! RAFT’s STEAM Teacher of the Year Awards recognize outstanding pre-K-12 teachers in the Bay Area who incorporate effective hands-on learning and/or maker education into their curriculum. Each awardee demonstrates excellence in teaching in at least one…

Sares Regis Supports Maker Mobile Visit to Costano Elementary

Mar 11, 2022 | Comments Off

RAFT would like to thank the Sares Regis Foundation for providing a grant to support the students and teachers at Costano Elementary. On February 15, RAFT worked with Costano makerspace teacher Bill Correll (Mr.Bill) to bring the Maker Mobile to Costano Elementary to serve…

Woman’s Club of Palo Alto supports East Palo Alto Academy STEAM Initiative

Jan 31, 2022 | Comments Off

RAFT would like to thank the Woman’s Club of Palo Alto for providing a grant to support the students and teachers at East Palo Alto Academy (EPAA) in their STEAM initiatives over the past year. During the early days of distance learning, RAFT provided…

Happy International Day of Education from RAFT!

Jan 24, 2022 | Comments Off

Today the world celebrates International Day of Education! Not only do we recognize the contributions of teachers, the personal development of students, and the hard work of everyone in the education field, but we also take today to recognize the role of education for…

RAFT Makerspace Build comes to San Lucas Union School District

Jan 19, 2022 | Comments Off

The rain of December took a brief hiatus to allow RAFT’s Education Team to bring the excitement of a makerspace build to San Lucas Union School District in southern Monterey County. With the support of all 75 students, they built new tool walls and…