Founder/Director

Lara Profitt is the founder, director, and teacher at Loudoun Nature Playschool. Before starting LNP Lara was an early childhood teacher and administrator in Washington DC and Fairfax VA. She has a Masters of Education degree in Early Childhood Education from George Mason University. Her love of combining nature and learning happened when she began working for the Audubon Naturalist Society in Leesburg as a Teacher-Naturalist for young children. She continued her work in Boston, working for MassAudubon at the Boston Nature Center, and in Washington DC, working as an educator at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Lara came back home to Loudoun in 2018 and began working toward creating her own nature-based preschool after discovering a lack of similar programs in Loudoun County. Lara grew up in rural southwestern VA and spent a huge amount of time playing outside as a child. She lives in Leesburg with her husband, 3 kids, 4 cats, and 1 dog on a large lot that doubles as a bird refuge in the summer. Some of her favorite things include reading, hiking, and finding critters wherever she is. Her favorite friend in the yard is the black snake that lives under the front step.