Park’s bear cameras draw millions of fans

Bear cameras at Alaska's Katmai National Park give an intimate glimpse into the natural world, and they are popular. More than 16 million people logged in last year to watch the brown bears fish for salmon, interact with each other or just hang out. "It calms you down," said Naomi Boak, a former television producer who became a park ranger at Katmai after watching the bears online. "It takes you out of yourself into a world that you don't need control over … and heals you."

Class discussion: Would you ever take a break from the usual online stuff to watch bears in the wild? Why or why not? How connected are you to the natural world? Do you enjoy being around animals or pets? Do you ever take time for a walk in a park or woods? Does interacting with nature calm you down? Researchers have found that being around pets can lower a person’s blood pressure, and some doctors are even prescribing walks in the woods. Does that make sense to you?