Daniel Larson, the new executive director of Belwin Conservancy, grew up on the edge of a small town in central North Dakota surrounded by nature.

“New Rockford. Town of 1,200. We were two hours from school shopping and FM radio,” said Larson, who begins work at the Afton-based nonprofit organization on Nov. 9.

“I spent all my free time outdoors climbing trees, building forts, playing sports, swimming, and just being free with other kids. We were safe and connected to nature and loved being outside every day until dark.”

Larson, 48, of St. Paul, said his love for nature has stayed with him and grounded him throughout his 25-year career in nonprofits.

Larson has been executive director of the St. Cloud Technical and Community College Foundation and the school’s vice president of advancement and government affairs since 2021. Prior to that, he served for six years as vice president of community impact and then executive director of Partner for Student Success at the United Way of Central Minnesota in St. Cloud.

Larson, an avid hiker, backpacker and bicyclist, began his career at the Salvation Army South L.A. Youth & Community Center in Los Angeles and the Children’s Day School in San Francisco.

“I had the privilege of taking youth out into nature and seeing firsthand the benefits that places like Belwin provide to so many,” said Larson, who also previously worked as a fisherman in Kasilof, Alaska.

Larson graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations.

Belwin Board President David Hartwell said the board is thrilled with the hire. “Daniel’s passion and experience will help Belwin continue to grow its programs and impact,” he said in a statement.

Since 1971, Belwin has played host each year to thousands of elementary school students who come to learn about science in the 1,600 acres that the conservancy owns in the St. Croix River Valley. The permanently protected land includes woodland, prairie, oak savanna, ponds, streams and wetlands.

Larson succeeds Katie Bloome, who announced in May that she was leaving the Afton-based nonprofit organization. Bloome, who was hired in 2018, helped Belwin launch new programs and initiatives, protect additional acres of land and complete construction of a new $3.6 million accessible outdoor-education center.