Resource Area for Teaching

Raft is proud to have supported our education community this past year. Our accomplishments include:we engaged over 10,000 students in hands-on steam learning facilitated more than 100 hands-on steam events at schools and community centers with our maker mobile program. Served over 400 students in extended learning programming (summer school) and developed 5 new steam learning activity kits. Educators incorporate hands-on learning in the digital classroom. Open membership to all so our affordable resources are accessible to as many people as possible. Effective last year, all parents, educators, administrators, and everyone helping educate in the times of distance learning are eligible for a raft membership. Virtual raft maker nights: these events welcomed educators, students, and their families to engage in the community by building the raft steam project kit together and connecting in the discussion about fun, steam elements taught through the activity and fun videos. Engineering design challenges: to help students stay engaged and creative, raft staff created engineering design challenges. These challenges propose a fun challenge, such as catching a leprechaun, and students use household items and their creativity to solve the challenge. Makerspace builds and maker mobile visits schools: raft visits schools to host makerspace builds and the raft maker mobile brings materials to school to host engaging, hands-on activities. After these events, students report enjoying the activities and feel confident with their work.

Raft diverts over 300 cubic tons of materials from landfills annually and makes them available for members in our Resource center. Raft has worked with 240 bay Area companies to collect and upcycle materials they no longer need, from office supplies to lab equipment, so that raft can repurpose them into hands-on learning materials. Members can also buy them in bulk to create their own learning materials. Since being founded in 1994, raft has received over 10 million cubic feet of donated materials. Raft addresses educators' needs and provides educational materials that fulfill the necessary standards to prepare students for future careers.

At raft's volunteer Resource center approximately 300 tons of donated materials are sorted, prepped, and assembled into hands-on learning kits by approximately 3,631 community volunteers annually. Our website and online store offer 24/7 access to educational resources and raft expanded our online store and offered curbside pick-up and delivery options.in 2020, raft opened our membership to parents and guardians to continue learning at home. Raft developed over 120 new, free learning activities available online to guide students through hands-on learning at home using common household materials without the need to purchase