Put the Pedal to the Metal
On Saturday, November 8, Barstow Robotics FRC Team 1939 hosted the GoBabyGO! Community Build event at the Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space KC, in partnership with Variety KC and five local high school robotics teams. Together, students customized ride-on toy cars for children with mobility challenges — transforming simple toys into empowering tools for independence and joy.
Engineering Empathy Through Innovation
At the heart of the build was a shared goal: to give children the freedom to explore their world. Using their engineering and problem-solving skills, students adapted each 6-volt ride-on car to fit the unique needs of its future driver. Guided by Variety KC therapists, the teams rewired controls, adjusted seats, and designed adaptive features to ensure every child could drive safely and comfortably.
“Depending on the specific needs for the child, their ability to articulate or their size, the cars need different modifications,” explained Team 1939 captain Carlos Salazar, senior. “It’s amazing to see how engineering can directly change someone’s life.”
Collaboration, Leadership and Service in Action
The GoBabyGO! build perfectly reflects Barstow’s mission to foster leadership, service and collaboration through innovative, hands-on learning. While the project began as a technical challenge, it is also something more profound — a lesson in empathy and shared purpose.
“It’s really great to host other local robotics teams from the area because we are able to collaborate instead of compete,” said Emily Smith, junior, and Team 1939 Business Captain. “We get to come together for a good cause — using what we know to help kids move, play and belong.”
By bringing together robotics teams from across the Kansas City region, the event showcased how leadership in STEM can drive social good. Students led design discussions, problem-solved mechanical and electrical challenges, and built confidence by serving others through their technical expertise.
Each adapted car helps its driver gain mobility and confidence — while supporting developmental milestones like coordination, independence and social interaction. “Giving the kids the cars is so heartwarming because you know you’re making a change in their life,” added Smith.
Belonging and Mobility for Every Child
The partnership with Variety KC — a nonprofit that ensures every child can be active, be social and belong — added even deeper meaning to the day. For the families receiving these cars, the impact was immediate and heartfelt.
Four-year-old Lyla Kinslow was one of the children who received a custom ride-on car. Her mother, Emily Clark, described the moment with tears in her eyes. “I get goosebumps right now. This is an amazing experience.”
Each adapted car helps its driver gain mobility and confidence — while supporting developmental milestones like coordination, independence and social interaction. “Giving the kids the cars is so heartwarming because you know you’re making a change in their life,” added Smith.
STEAM for Social Good
The GoBabyGO! event demonstrates how Barstow’s STEAM curriculum connects innovation with compassion, empowering students to use robotics as a force for inclusion and joy. By combining science, technology, engineering, art and math with a commitment to service and empathy, students discover that technical skill and social impact can go hand in hand.
Barstow’s partnership with Variety KC exemplifies this mission — uniting engineering excellence with a shared belief that every child deserves the chance to play, explore and belong.
Driving Forward
As the last car rolled out of IDEA Space, the students of Team 1939 and their peers saw firsthand how their creativity and teamwork could create lasting change. Their work reminds us that robotics is more than gears and code — it’s a way to lead, serve and uplift others, turning innovation into inspiration.
