The Rocky Mountain Tooling & Machining Association Introduces

NRL Colorado

Engaging manufacturing's next generation

What is the National Robotics League Colorado (NRL Colorado)?

NRL Colorado is designed to engage students in a job-driven, project-based STEM (science technology engineering math) learning
experience. The league helps close the workforce skills gap and promote pathways for manufacturing careers through hands-on projects that are fun. Learn how the program works here.

NRL Colorado builds on the success of robotics programs in our community and makes a direct tie to careers for the next generation — careers in manufacturing.

Watch a video about the NRL Colorado program.

Benefits of Competing

The benefits of competing are the same as any extra-curricular or in-school activity:

Social development
Improving self-esteem
Helping bolster a college application
Giving kids a sense of belonging
Helps them gain the technical and critical thinking skills

But, the NRL Colorado program does even more: it inspires young people to realize they can have a high-paying future pursuing manufacturing and STEM-related careers.

We Are Selling Shirts to Support NRL Colorado!

All proceeds will go to NRL Colorado (a 501(C)(3) charitable nonprofit). Your support will help secure the future of manufacturing in Colorado and help build a skilled, enthusiastic, and an adaptable employee pipeline. With your support, we can bridge the gap between in-school training and real-world experience for manufacturing companies.

We thank our printing partner at ChariTEES®.

Why is Manufacturing the Future?

Manufacturing is the foundation of every healthy economy, especially here in Colorado. The future of manufacturing rests in the hands of the next generation, and that’s why initiatives like the National Robotics League Colorado (NRL Colorado) are so important.

Below are facts that we are working to overcome with this program:

There is a skills and interest gap in manufacturing.
2.4 million manufacturing positions may go unfilled by 2028 (according to a Deloitte Study).
90% of parents recognize that a strong manufacturing base is critical to the US economy, but only 30% of parents
would support their child’s pursuit of a career in manufacturing.
NRL Colorado attracts smart, capable students who love to build things and solve problems.
Potential careers students can have: buyer, manager, CAD/CAM designer, CNC operator/machinist, welder, assembler, driver, quality control and more!

NRL Colorado is designed to get high school students interested in manufacturing by teaching them how to build and program robots. And it seems to be working; a recent study found that 94 percent of NRL participants planned to pursue a career in manufacturing after completing the league.

So if you’re a parent or educator with a student who’s interested in technology, make sure to check out the National Robotics League Colorado. It could be just what teenagers need to jumpstart their career in manufacturing and other STEM-related careers!

National Robotics League Colorado

A Learning Experience - A Career Opportunity

Support NRL Colorado - Make a Donation Today

Your support will help secure the future of manufacturing in Colorado and help build a skilled, enthusiastic, and an adaptable employee pipeline. With your support, we can bridge the gap between in-school training and real-world experience for manufacturing companies.

Members of the RMTMA act as mentors and industry advisors in helping their local high school team design and build their bot in preparation of the NRL Colorado Competition (scheduled for Saturday, April 15 at Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, Centennial). This relationship provides a glimpse into real life manufacturing where students and parents are exposed to career potentials.

Leading up to the competition, it takes hundreds of hours of skilled work from machining parts to welding, along with electronics that students are mentored through. We need your help to grow this program and build a pipeline to fill future jobs in machine shops across Colorado.

Can we count on you to help us? We hope you’ll support us by making a donation today. Together, we can build and strengthen relationships between local schools and machine shops to shrink the skills gap and actively fill a pipeline of future manufacturers.

$25 provides a team with fasteners.
$50 provides a team with a motor.
$100 provides a team with a controller.
$250 provides a team with pulleys, battery, wheels plus the above.
$500 provides a team with a basic frame, plus the above. Also, can help students get transportation to and from their industry advisor’s machine shop for mentoring and machining.

If you would like to explore the types of career opportunities in manufacturing