- My name is Dudley Edmondson, I'm originally from Columbus, Ohio.

My parents would take us to a place called Hoover Reservoir, just on weekends, for family picnics.

So I found it very peaceful and very therapeutic to be in the out-of-doors.

I live here in Duluth, Minnesota, been here about three decades or so.

I came here really to pursue a career as a nature photographer I wanted to live in a place where bird migration was very reliable and the numbers and things were high.

And I came to Duluth because of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve.

Yeah, I was really into birds of prey, and have been most, probably since junior high school, late elementary school, and stuff, and so I wanted to live in a place where I could see and photograph birds of prey pretty easy.

I find that the more acres I put between myself and the next person, the more comfortable and relaxed I am.

I just wanna constantly encourage black people, and people of color in general, to get into the out-of-doors for their own mental and physical health.

(camera shutter clicking) The book I wrote in 2006 is "Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places."

It was my attempt to create a set of outdoor role models for the nation's African-American community.

I was very deliberate in choosing young people, older people, professional outdoor people, and just enthusiasts to just get this wide range of people because I wanted to make sure that when people looked at the book, they read the book, at some point they'd find a story where someone seemed very familiar to them.

I've had people tell me about people who've, young people who've actually pursued careers in the out-of-doors because they read the book and they realized it was possible for them to be a biologist or a wildlife researcher.

And that's really humbling to realize that I've had that kind of impact on people.

(camera shutter clicking) To me, what I've learned, is that until that person actually has that experience, they really can't grasp the concept of how therapeutic nature can be.

It's a thing you absolutely have to experience.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota, probably 1987.

It's typical South Dakota habitat, which is buttes, and sort of an arete kind of a landscape, but there was nothing there.

I recall on that particular event, sticking my fingers in my ears because I wanted to see what the difference was between what I was hearing.

And I knew that if I put my fingers in my ears, theoretically, total silence.

When I took my fingers away from my ear, it didn't sound any different.

I didn't even know it was possible to be in a space where the only thing you hear is your own heart beating, and that was mind-blowing to me, and, of course, very therapeutic.

I'm always spending time in the out-of-doors as much as I can because I still feel like it's very good for my mental health.

(camera shutter clicking) I am not the leader of it, we do have a men of color gathering group that gets together on Sundays.

It's a mix of people from different ethnic backgrounds and different skill sets.

We all get together and go for a hike or do some outdoor activity.

It's an avenue for us to reduce our stress levels in the out-of-doors, to get the mental and physical health properties from being in the out-of-doors, while also building fellowship and friendship.

[Man] I've got water in my- - You're building this sense of community that I think is extremely important for people of color here in Duluth.

You can't really say to people, "This is therapeutic, you will enjoy it," and you can't assume they're gonna go, "Oh, okay, I totally understand what you're saying.

And I agree with you, and someday I'll do it."

I just think that people of color owe it to themselves to get into the out-of-doors.

(camera shutter clicking) (peaceful music) - [Narrator] Funding for "Intersections" is brought to you by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.