Connection to Nature

Our increasingly hectic lifestyles drive us to spend more and more time indoors. As our time outside becomes so infrequent, we run the risk of loosing our connection to nature entirely.

Why is this a dire consequence? Whether we know it or not, nature nourishes each of us physically and spiritually. While we can not separate ourselves from nature, our own hubris as a species leads us to believe we can. When we become disassociated from the earth and loose our compassion for it, we risk our own future.

Our children are the future stewards of the land. Maintaining a connection between them is one of the primary goals of our environmental education program.

Open Space

One of the things that makes the Saint Croix Valley special are the landscapes The landscape of this region was formed thousands of years ago by the melting glaciers. These ancient forces created one of the most spectacular river valleys in the nation and an important corridor for migratory bird species.

It has also long been an important corridor for people as a source of timber and transportation. It is the birthplace of Minnesota and Belwin contains the site for one of the oldest mills in the state.

The Metropolitan Council predicts that the population of the Twin Cities will increase by nearly a million people in the next 20 years. This growth will be the cause of further development in this region. As more land is turned over to housing developments and shopping centers, we risk loosing the character of the place.

Belwin's diverse lands are both a natural and cultural treasure. It can never be replaced. The support of the community and our members is essential to its preservation.