The Science Museum of Minnesota has regifted, but this is no social faux pas. It's a 30-acre tract of prime real estate in rural Afton that will now be preserved as open space and wildlife habitat.

The property was transferred last week to the Belwin Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental education organization that draws thousands of students from urban schools each year and owns the adjacent land. Belwin, in turn, has donated the land to the Minnesota Land Trust to ensure that it remains protected.

The transaction completes a conservation vision that began in 1972 when the Rev. George Metcalf, an Episcopal priest who served as Gen. George Patton's chaplain during World War II, and his wife, Mary, donated property to the Science Museum to be used as a nature preserve and for scientific research.

Over time, the Science Museum has been transferring land to Belwin for management, given their adjacent preserve. The final 30-acre piece was donated to the museum in 1982 by Burton and Helen Baker and Robert and Peggy Fritts.

"The three organizations involved in this partnership were able to arrive at an agreement that fulfills Father Metcalf's original intent," said Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Belwin Conservancy. "We are thrilled to now include this important area in our nature preserve of more than 1,300 acres."

In addition to education programs, an observatory was recently opened on the Belwin property. The organization also is restoring a 150-acre oak savanna, is restoring and protecting the Valley Creek trout stream and maintains a large buffalo herd.

JIM ANDERSON