Belwin was created in 1970; however, land acquisition for the organization began in 1958 when Charlie and Lucy Bell purchased 68 acres of land in Afton, Minnesota. At that time, subsistence farming in Afton was nearing the end of its viability. Parcels became available as people left the land so the Bells purchased additional adjacent property hoping to protect the area from being overdeveloped. By the early 1970s, the Bells had purchased 500 acres.

While acquiring property, Charlie and Lucy envisioned a relationship where the land would be protected and cherished and available for an environmental education program that could be used as a model for other land management organizations and school systems.

In the early 1970’s, the Saint Paul Public School District was attempting to locate property in the Saint Croix River Valley to use as an outdoor education laboratory. In 1970 the Bells and the school district came together and developed a cooperative agreement which continues today. Charlie and Lucy Bell donated land to the newly created Belwin Foundation for the development of an outdoor education facility.

In 1997 a group from the Valley Athletic Association and the Saint Croix Soccer Club approached Belwin about the availability of suitable land for an athletic complex. Belwin provided property adjacent to Interstate 94. The Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields are used by a variety of local youth sports organizations.