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Expanding Access to Engineering Through Community Libraries
📰 Featured by Tampa Bay 28 ABC News
Regional Media Coverage
Regency Robotics and the RAIL framework were featured by Tampa Bay 28 ABC News for expanding access to robotics and engineering education through public libraries.
The story highlights the program's community impact, student leadership, and vision for expanding robotics opportunities throughout Pasco County.
Tampa Bay 28 ABC News highlights the Regency Robotics program and its mission to expand robotics education through public libraries.
Regency Robotics is the founding implementation of RAIL (Robotics Advancement in Libraries), a community initiative created by Ana Thomas to bring hands-on robotics and engineering education to public libraries through sustainable, replicable programming.
Program Launch & Growth
Following a successful pilot launch, Regency Robotics has grown into an ongoing library-based STEM program and the pilot implementation of the RAIL framework.
On April 6, Regency Robotics, a RAIL (Robotics Advancement in Libraries) Program, officially launched at Regency Park Library with 9 student participants ages 8–12.
Students rotated through three hands-on robotics stations:
• Line tracking using sensors
• Maze navigation with programming
• Obstacle course driving challenges
Participants worked alongside LED Robotics student volunteers to explore how robots move, sense their environment, and follow programmed navigation paths.
All participants successfully completed at least one robotics navigation challenge during the workshop.
The event was part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project and marks the beginning of an ongoing robotics program at the library.
Following the successful launch workshop, Regency Robotics continued with additional workshops at Regency Park Library, expanded through community STEM outreach events, and received regional media coverage from Tampa Bay 28 ABC News. Additional workshops and expansion opportunities continue to support the growth of the RAIL framework.
Project Overview
Regency Robotics is a library-based STEM outreach program I developed as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award to expand access to hands-on robotics learning opportunities for students ages 8–12. The program introduces engineering concepts through structured activity stations hosted at Regency Park Library and supported by LED Robotics student volunteers.
Rather than lending robotics equipment for checkout, Regency Robotics provides guided workshop experiences that allow students to explore robotics in a collaborative learning environment.
The workshop uses Makeblock mBot robots, which provide an accessible introduction to sensors, motion control, and programming concepts for beginner robotics learners.
The goal of this program is to make engineering education more accessible through repeatable, library-hosted robotics events.
Ana introduces students to the mBot robots alongside LED Robotics volunteers during the Regency Robotics launch event at Regency Park Library.
The Challenge
Many students are interested in robotics but do not have access to equipment outside school programs. Public libraries provide strong academic resources but rarely offer engineering tools that allow students to explore robotics in a hands-on environment.
Without early exposure to STEM learning opportunities, students may miss important chances to build confidence in engineering skills and develop interest in technical careers.
My Solution
To address limited access to robotics learning opportunities outside school environments, I developed Regency Robotics, a structured library-based workshop program supported by reusable activity stations and volunteer mentors.
The program includes:
• Beginner-friendly robotics kits used during hosted events
• Structured activity stations
• Printed setup guides for volunteers and staff
• Student volunteer leadership
• A structured program binder with station instructions and setup guides for future library and volunteer-led workshops
This model allows libraries to offer structured robotics programming without requiring equipment checkout systems or specialized technical staff.
Engineering Design Process
🔍 Identify Need
Students lacked access to robotics resources outside school environments.
📚 Research Solutions
I studied existing STEM outreach programs and library learning models.
✏️ Design Program
I designed activity stations using Makeblock mBot robots, developed setup guides, and created a volunteer-supported workshop structure.
🤖 Test Implementation
I partnered with Regency Park Library to prepare and conduct a pilot workshop.
📊 Evaluate Feedback
Parent surveys and student participation data helped refine station activities and improve workshop effectiveness.
🌍 Prepare Expansion
The program is being expanded through additional Regency Robotics workshops supported by reusable activity guides and student volunteers.
I used CADing software to design maze station components that support structured hands-on engineering challenges for student participants.
Workshop Activities
Introduction
Regency Robotics workshops feature a growing collection of hands-on engineering challenges that introduce students to robotics, programming, sensors, computational thinking, and problem-solving. Activities are designed to be modular, allowing workshops to rotate different stations based on participant age, available time, and event goals.
Beginning with three pilot activities in April 2026, the program has expanded to six engineering stations that continue to evolve through real-world testing and participant feedback.
Line Tracking Challenge
Students design and assemble custom paths using reusable track segments before programming an mBot robot to follow the route using its line-following sensors. The activity introduces sensor-based navigation, engineering design, testing, and iterative problem-solving.
Maze Programming Challenge
Students use the Makeblock app to program an mBot through a floor maze by creating movement sequences and debugging their code. The challenge develops computational thinking while teaching students how robots execute programmed instructions.
Obstacle Course Navigation
Students manually drive an mBot through an obstacle course while practicing precision control, navigation, and problem-solving. The activity helps build confidence while reinforcing engineering concepts in an engaging environment.
Dinosaur Rescue Mission
(New Summer 2026)
Students program an mBot to rescue toy dinosaurs by navigating a course and pushing them to designated safe zones. The activity combines coding, navigation, and strategic planning while encouraging students to test and improve their programs.
Crazy Frog Programming Challenge
(New Summer 2026)
Students use programming blocks to create a robot that repeatedly jumps between designated lily pads while avoiding obstacles. The challenge introduces loops, sequencing, and logical thinking through a fun game-based activity.
Robot Art Studio
(New Summer 2026)
Students create a design using the Draw & Run feature in the mBot app, then watch as the robot attempts to recreate their drawing on a large sheet of paper. The activity combines creativity, programming, and real-world robot movement.
Workshop Evolution
Regency Robotics continues to expand with new engineering challenges developed through real-world testing and participant feedback.
April 2026 – Pilot Launch
9 student participants
Three original engineering stations
Successful launch of the Regency Robotics program
June 2026 – Summer Workshop
12 student participants
Three newly developed activity stations introduced:
Dinosaur Rescue Mission
Crazy Frog Programming Challenge
Robot Art Studio
Featured by Tampa Bay 28 ABC News
Future workshops will continue introducing new engineering challenges while refining existing activities for libraries implementing the RAIL framework.
Program Results
Since launching in April 2026, Regency Robotics has served 21 students through two successful library workshops. Participant surveys have demonstrated high levels of engagement, increased interest in robotics, and strong support for future workshops. Lessons learned from each event continue to improve activity design and implementation resources.
Community Impact
The Regency Robotics program introduces elementary and middle school students to robotics concepts through guided, hands-on activities hosted at Regency Park Library. By providing structured robotics workshops in a public library setting, the program expands access to engineering learning opportunities beyond traditional classroom environments.
Since launching in April 2026, the program has continued to expand through recurring library workshops, community outreach events, student volunteer mentorship, and recognition by Tampa Bay 28 ABC News, demonstrating the growing impact of the RAIL model within the community.
Expected outcomes include:
Increased access to hands-on robotics learning opportunities in the community
Strong engagement from participating students during structured workshop activities
Mentorship opportunities for high school robotics volunteers
Reusable activity station guides and program documentation for future events
A sustainable library-hosted robotics program model that can be replicated at additional library locations through the RAIL framework.
Current Status & Future Expansion
Current Status
Regency Robotics has evolved from a Girl Scout Gold Award project into an ongoing robotics program at Regency Park Library. Following the successful pilot launch in April 2026, additional workshops have expanded the program with new engineering activities, increased student participation, community outreach events, and continued support from LED Robotics student volunteers.
The program now includes six modular activity stations, reusable implementation resources, volunteer training materials, and structured workshop documentation that support future library adoption through the RAIL (Robotics Advancement in Libraries) framework.
Ana leads the closing discussion with workshop participants, gathering feedback used to improve future RAIL activities and support expansion to additional libraries.
Current Program Snapshot
📅 2 library workshops completed
👩🎓 21 students served
🤖 6 engineering activity stations
👥 Supported by LED Robotics student volunteers
📰 Featured by Tampa Bay 28 ABC News
📚 Foundation of the RAIL library expansion framework
🤝 Partnership with Regency Park Library
🏅 Girl Scout Gold Award Project
Future Expansion
Regency Robotics will continue expanding through new workshops, library partnerships, volunteer leadership, and continued refinement of the RAIL framework.
Host recurring robotics workshops at Regency Park Library.
Partner with additional Pasco County library locations.
Develop new engineering and programming activity stations.
Train additional student volunteers to support workshops.
Refine implementation guides and educational resources using participant feedback.
Share the RAIL framework with libraries interested in launching sustainable robotics programs.
Expand community outreach through schools, STEM events, and youth organizations.
The long-term vision for RAIL is to provide public libraries with a complete, sustainable robotics education framework that can be implemented using affordable equipment, trained student volunteers, and documented implementation resources.
Project Leadership
Role: Founder, Program Designer & Implementation Lead
Regency Robotics was designed and implemented as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project and has grown into the founding pilot program for the RAIL (Robotics Advancement in Libraries) framework.
As founder of the program, I designed six engineering activity stations, developed workshop setup guides, created volunteer training materials, and produced implementation documentation to help public libraries host sustainable robotics workshops.
I coordinate LED Robotics student volunteers, partner with Regency Park Library staff, lead workshop instruction, collect participant feedback, and continually refine activities based on real-world testing.
Beyond library workshops, I have presented the program during community STEM outreach events, introduced robotics activities to younger students, and promoted the RAIL framework as a model that can be expanded to additional libraries.
This project reflects my commitment to making engineering education more accessible through student leadership, community partnerships, and sustainable STEM outreach.
Ana worked with Regency Park Library staff to assemble robotics kits used for Regency Robotics workshops, preparing materials for student events and supporting long-term library program sustainability.
Why This Project Matters
Many students are interested in robotics but have limited access to equipment, mentors, and engineering experiences outside of school. Public libraries provide an ideal environment for expanding access to STEM education, but many libraries lack robotics curriculum, implementation resources, and technical support.
Regency Robotics demonstrates that a sustainable robotics program can be delivered using affordable equipment, student volunteers, and structured activity guides. The lessons learned through this pilot program are now being incorporated into the RAIL framework so additional libraries can replicate the model within their own communities.
By combining engineering education, community partnerships, and student leadership, RAIL creates a scalable approach that helps inspire the next generation of engineers.
Regency Robotics is the pilot program. RAIL is the framework. Together they demonstrate how public libraries can expand access to engineering education through affordable, student-led robotics workshops.
Bring RAIL to Your Library
Interested in implementing a library-based robotics program or learning more about the RAIL framework?
For information about workshops, implementation resources, volunteer training materials, or library partnerships, contact:
Christiana "Ana" Thomas
Founder, RAIL (Robotics Advancement in Libraries)
Founder, Regency Robotics
Girl Scout Gold Award Candidate
📧 christianathomas2027@gmail.com
Libraries interested in hosting a RAIL workshop or learning more about implementing the framework are encouraged to reach out.
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