Reboot Robotics Monthly Newsletter – August 2025 Edition
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A Message From the CEO
August has been a month of fresh beginnings and exciting momentum for Reboot Robotics! Our brand-new FIRST LEGO League team officially started meeting, and it’s been a joy watching these younger students dig into robotics, teamwork, and problem-solving. The release of this season’s FLL game was a highlight, and we’re already off to a great start.
Meanwhile, our FIRST Tech Challenge team is back from summer break and eagerly counting down the days until the September 6th game release. The energy in the room has been palpable as the team gears up for another incredible season.
We also held a Bake Sale fundraiser at SBU earlier this week to raise funds for the Ozark Food Harvest —— thanks to everyone’s support, we raised $156 to help fight hunger in our community!
Another exciting update: we’ve officially announced our monthly STEM Lab events. These will be open opportunities for students to explore fun, hands-on STEM activities, and we can’t wait to see the creativity and learning that come out of them.
It’s been a season of growth, excitement, and teamwork, and I’m so thankful for the families, students, and supporters who continue to make Reboot Robotics thrive.
With gratitude,
Nicole Neeld
Founder & CEO, Reboot Robotics
Team Highlights
🟣 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) - Nuclear Space Potatoes
Our FTC team is back in action after summer break! We kicked off with our first of four-session CAD class, giving students a chance to learn design skills and prepare for the season ahead. The team also had the opportunity to connect with our new Mechanical Engineer mentors during a fun meet-and-greet.
We held a bake sale at SBU to support Ozark Food Harvest, combining teamwork with community service. On top of that, the team has been setting goals for the season and already dreaming up ideas for the Bolivar Christmas Parade—it’s shaping up to be an exciting year!
🟢 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) - Space Taters
Our new FLL team had their very first meeting this month! Students spent time getting to know each other, learning about the game, and exploring what the FLL Challenge is all about. They also received their game kit and already built all the mission models, which they’ll be designing their robot to tackle throughout the season. We’re excited to start brainstorming and deciding on our Innovation Project, and to begin working on the robot itself.
Upcoming Events
🤖 FTC Game Release
Date: Saturday, September 6
Details: Our FTC team, the Nuclear Space Potatoes, will kick off the 2025–2026 season with the official game release! The team will gather with other teams at Kickapoo to watch the game release videos, see the field reveal in person, participate in giveaways, and even take home the main field element so we can start building and testing. We’ll be digging deeper into the game details that day and beginning to strategize, laying the groundwork for brainstorming our robot ideas in the coming weeks.
🎉 STEM Lab – Straw Rockets
Date: Monday, September 8
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Cost: $5 per participant
Location: 2801 W Broadway Street, Bolivar, MO
Details: Join us for the very first Reboot Robotics STEM Lab! Students will explore the fun of hands-on STEM with our Straw Rockets activity, learning basic principles of physics and engineering while experimenting with flight and design. Space is limited, so registration is required to reserve your spot go to https://www.rebootrobotics.org/event-list. This is a great opportunity for all students to build, test, and learn in a fun, interactive environment!
🍔🍟 Wendy's Fundraiser
Date: Thursday, September 25
Time: All Day
Location: 2480 S Springfield Ave, Bolivar
Details: Support Reboot Robotics while enjoying a meal at Wendy’s! A portion of the proceeds will benefit our teams—but you must present the flyer for us to receive the percentage. It’s an easy and tasty way to help our students continue learning, building, and exploring STEM.
Spotlight Series
This month, we’d like to shine the spotlight on Matt Griswold, who has stepped in to mentor our FTC team in public speaking. Back in March, Matt joined us for a special session and gave the team valuable tools for communicating with confidence, including four practical tips: 1) have a plan and outline, 2) consider what you want to say, 3) find opportunities to be relatable, and 4) use eye contact and positive non-verbals.
The highlight of the day was his activity: each student was given a random topic—such as how to build a snowman, why people love teddy bears, or the differences between water and soda—10–15 minutes to prepare, and then delivered a 2-minute presentation. Some students decided to wing it, while others put together creative, memorable speeches. Every single one did an amazing job! Matt provided thoughtful feedback to each student—always pointing out what they did well and sharing practical ways to improve.
It was a fantastic experience, and the team walked away with stronger presentation skills and a lot more confidence. We’re excited to welcome Matt back later this year as we prepare for the all-important Judges Interview—so we can ace it like a flawlessly executed autonomous routine!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We’re incredibly grateful to Farmer’s Market of Bolivar for their continued support as a valued Silver Level Sponsor! Their generosity helps provide hands-on STEM experiences, mentorship opportunities, and resources that empower our students to explore robotics and innovation. We’re honored to have them as part of the Reboot Robotics community and truly appreciate their commitment to inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators.
Favorite Moments This Month
August has been full of energy and excitement as our robotics teams kick off the new season!
FLL Team Launch
Our new FLL team has hit the ground running! These students have brought curiosity, creativity, and teamwork to every meeting. Watching them dig into the game, explore the season theme, and share ideas has been a true highlight. We can’t wait to see how their Innovation Project and robot take shape this season!
FTC Back in Action
The FTC team is back in action with energy to spare! From starting a 4-session CAD class to setting ambitious team goals, they’re already thinking ahead to the Bolivar Christmas Parade. Adding to the excitement, the team had the opportunity to meet their new Mechanical Engineer mentors, who will provide invaluable guidance and support throughout the season—and hopefully help us bring home some wins!
Every now and then, even our coaches have an “epic fail” moment! While we would have loved to share a photo of our Nuclear Space Potatoes meeting their Mechanical Engineer mentors, both coaches completely forgot to snap any pictures that day. We were all so caught up in the excitement and conversations that it just didn’t happen. We promise to do better next time… and maybe you can remind us here and there too!
Support Reboot Robotics
Support Reboot Robotics – Cubelets Fundraiser
We’re excited to launch a Facebook Fundraiser to help provide Cubelets for our students and community! Cubelets are modular robots that make it easy for learners of all ages to explore coding, problem-solving, and hands-on STEM concepts. Every donation helps us bring these innovative tools to our robotics teams and STEM Lab participants.
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/donate/688360060918941/122176813010433475/
Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators!
Want to help us keep growing?
That’s a Wrap!
August has been full of excitement and growth for our nonprofit! Our FLL team has really dug in, and our FTC team is back in action—setting goals, learning CAD, and meeting their new Mechanical Engineer mentors.
And remember last month’s little teaser? If you missed it on social media, the secret is out: we’re giving away science kits to local homeschool families! Each kit includes a pair of goggles, a thermometer, a 250 ml beaker, and a 400 ml beaker—and we even have extra goggles. Check out our Facebook page and see the pinned post for details on how to claim your kit!
As always, we’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us grow, so feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, or questions.
Until next time, keep building, exploring, and dreaming big with us!
📧 Contact us: info@rebootrobotics.org
