Reboot Robotics Monthly Newsletter – July 2026 Edition
- nicoleneeld
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
This month we were excited to officially kick off our 2026/2027 competitive season! The first half of the month was spent preparing our facility, organizing equipment, and getting everything ready to welcome students back for another exciting year of robotics.
The season is already shaping up to be our biggest yet. We are thrilled to share that our VEX IQ program has expanded from one team to three teams! The enthusiasm and interest from younger students has been incredible, and we can't wait to watch them learn, grow, and develop their engineering and teamwork skills throughout the season.
Our VEX V5 program has also experienced exciting growth, expanding from four students last season to seven this year. With four competitive teams now representing Reboot Robotics, we are looking forward to seeing what our students accomplish both on and off the competition field.
July also brought exciting growth to our outreach programs. We have rebranded our monthly STEM Lab as STEM Explorers Club, introducing a refreshed format designed to provide engaging STEM experiences for families. We are also excited to launch our new Robotics Discovery Program, creating another opportunity for students to explore robotics through hands-on learning. Be sure to check out the Upcoming Events section later in this newsletter to learn more about these exciting new opportunities.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported our monthly Wendy's Fundraiser. Your participation on the third Tuesday of each month helps provide valuable funding for our programs, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support. We hope you'll continue joining us each month and invite your friends and family to participate as well. Every visit makes a difference for our students!
As always, thank you for being part of the Reboot Robotics community and supporting the next generation of innovators, engineers, and problem-solvers!
With gratitude,
Nicole Neeld
Founder & CEO, Reboot Robotics
Team Highlights
The Space Taters are off to a fantastic start for the 2026/2027 season! This year, our VEX IQ program has welcomed 11 students who are eager to learn, build, and grow together. During their first meetings, students worked together to assemble their competition field, providing a great opportunity to begin building teamwork. They also reviewed team expectations, learned about the Engineering Notebook and its role throughout the season, and watched this year's VEX IQ game reveal to begin discussing game strategy ideas. We are excited to watch these young engineers grow throughout the season and can't wait to see what they accomplish!
The Nuclear Space Potatoes have hit the ground running as they begin the 2026/2027 season. During their first meetings, students worked together to assemble their competition field, strengthening teamwork while preparing for the season ahead. They also reviewed team expectations, explored the purpose and structure of the Engineering Notebook, and watched this year's VEX V5 game reveal to begin discussing game strategy. These first few weeks have focused on building a strong foundation before diving into the robot build, and we look forward to seeing what this team accomplishes throughout the season.
Upcoming Events
We have many events coming up, be sure to check our events page for full details.
🎉 STEM Lab – Bridges
Date: Monday, August 10, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Cost: $5 per participant
Location: 2801 W Broadway Street, Bolivar, MO
Details: Join us for our final STEM Lab as students design and build their own bridges while exploring the principles of structural engineering, stability, and load-bearing. Participants will build their own bridges to discover how different shapes and building techniques affect strength. This hands-on challenge encourages creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving through the engineering design process. Space is limited, so registration is required. To reserve your spot go to https://www.rebootrobotics.org/event-list.
This will be our final STEM Lab before we launch our newly reimagined STEM Explorers Club this fall. Be sure to check out the new program and join us for even more hands-on STEM adventures!
✨ NEW! STEM Explorers Club
🤖 Youth Robotics Class – Mountain Mayhem
Date: August 11, 2026
Details: We are excited to share that our Youth Robotics Class – Mountain Mayhem is officially full! This free program was made possible through the generous support of CMH, allowing students the opportunity to explore robotics, coding, and problem-solving through hands-on learning at no cost to families. Thank you to CMH for investing in STEM education and helping us provide more opportunities for students in our community. We can’t wait to welcome our students!
Beginner Coding Class
Date: August 13, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $25 per student
Location: Reboot Robotics 2801 W Broadway Street, Bolivar, MO
Details: Join Reboot Robotics for our Beginner Coding Class, where students will discover the fundamentals of coding through fun, hands-on activities and interactive robots. Designed for beginners, this class introduces key programming concepts while encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and computational thinking in an engaging, supportive environment. Space is limited, so registration is required. To reserve your spot, visit our website. No prior coding experience is necessary!
🛒 Walmart Community Outreach
Date: Monday, August 17, 2026
Time: Morning & Afternoon
Location: Walmart – Bolivar, MO
Details: Stop by and visit Reboot Robotics at Walmart on August 17! Our teams will be set up throughout the day sharing about our programs and connecting with our community. Come say hello, learn more about what we do, and see robotics in action as we kick off another exciting season!
🍔 Wendy's Fundraiser
Date: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month
Time: All Day
Location: Bolivar Wendy’s
Don't forget our monthly partnership with Wendy’s! Every 3rd Tuesday, a portion of sales will go toward supporting Reboot Robotics. Be sure to show the flyer when you order so your purchase counts toward our fundraiser. Stop by, grab a meal, and help us fund hands-on STEM experiences and robotics programs for local students, every bite makes a difference!
🤖 NEW! Robotics Discovery Program
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We are proud to recognize Missouri STEM Initiative as a continued supporter of Reboot Robotics! For the third year in a row, Missouri STEM Initiative has provided grant funding that helps cover season registration costs, allowing our teams to participate in competitive robotics opportunities.
Their support has played an important role in making robotics more accessible for our students and helping us continue to provide meaningful hands-on STEM experiences.
Because of partnerships like this, our students are able to compete, learn, and grow through robotics while developing skills in engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Thank you, Missouri STEM Initiative, for investing in our students and supporting the future of STEM education in our community!
Favorite Moments This Month
Support Reboot Robotics
Want to help us continue providing hands-on STEM opportunities for students in our community? There are many ways to support Reboot Robotics, from donating and volunteering to partnering with us throughout the season.
As our competitive programs continue to grow, we will need volunteers to help support future VEX competitions. Volunteers play an important role in creating successful events, and there are many ways to get involved through official event volunteer roles that help provide a positive experience for teams, students, and families. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering opportunities, please reach out to us at info@rebootrobotics.org.
Learn more about sponsoring here!
Want to help us keep growing?
That’s a Wrap!
As we close out July, we are celebrating an incredible start to the 2026/2027 season at Reboot Robotics. From welcoming new students and building new teams to launching expanded programs and strengthening our community partnerships, this season is already filled with excitement and opportunity. We are grateful for everyone who continues to support our students and our mission, and we look forward to sharing all the amazing things our teams will accomplish this year!
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
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