Robin Criscuolo

“The blueprint for the rest of your life is formed in the early years.”

Robin Criscuolo’s belief in education is founded in her own upbringing in rural Virginia. 

Her passion for exploration and early childhood education led her to create Robin’s Nest — an outdoor education program that doesn’t just teach but provides a space for curious young minds to flourish in nature. Her program is based in Crozet, Virginia — a small community in Albemarle County, 12 miles west of Charlottesville.

Robin applied for the CIC entrepreneur workshop in the Spring of 2022 with the dream of founding a nature-based learning development program for toddlers. Robin’s Nest is centered around the belief that a child’s curiosity should be the biggest motivating factor behind their education. Robin says, “As adults, it is easy for us to overlook the creative capacity these kids already have. They don’t need us to hold their hand, they need us to uplift them into what they already have.” On their acre-large outdoor campus, children safely explore and interact with nature, as their inquisitive spirits lead the way. This unique environment stimulates all components of learning – from touch and smell, self-driven exploration, and classical guidance from experienced educators. 

The path to creating Robin’s Nest wasn’t always clear. Despite over a decade of experience working with children, Robin was initially hesitant to start her own business. It was during the CIC Entrepreneur Workshop that her vision began to take shape. “Launching my business was a whole new part of my life, and it was a while before I was ready to do that. CIC was my first step,” Robin told us. After starting with CIC in the fall of 2022, Robin connected with a series of mentors who helped her accelerate her business timeline. By the end of the entrepreneur workshop, she was open for business! 

Though she was initially intimidated by the various logistical challenges associated with entrepreneurship, CIC programs gave her the necessary tools to let her business thrive. 

Through CIC’s Financial Management Program (FMP), she found the courage to pursue her lifelong dream of creating an intentional, nature-based, childhood development program. FMP coaching helped Robin create a blueprint for business expansion, allowing her to grow both the size of her campus and increase her number of operational days from 2 to 4 — all within the first year!

CIC stood alongside Robin for over a year as she expanded the program. Robin’s Nest is now licensed by the Department of Education and operates year-round. Robin is happy to give children the chance to engage in outdoor learning even when they can’t be enrolled in traditional schooling. “Growing up, I never thought I would own my own business, but being around other folks on that path that believed in me and said ‘you can do this’ made me think, maybe I can,” Robin reflected. 

Following her graduation from the workshop, Robin connected with a CIC Mentor to help her manage the expansion of Robin’s Nest. She met her mentor, Hope Lawrence, in the Spring of 2023. Mentorship helped Robin in the most challenging moments of self-doubt. She described it as the best part of the CIC community because “you have someone to celebrate with!”

Those celebrations have been numerous – from purchasing a permanent campus to expanding class sizes and achieving DoE certification. As a hub for mentors, business resources, and community support, CIC has witnessed Robin’s Nest become an integral part of the Charlottesville-Albemarle community, contributing to a broader understanding of outdoor learning. 

Now enrolling, Robin’s Nest is ready to welcome new families who seek a safe, creative alternative to early childhood education.