Now through the end of November, you can watch the annual migration of polar bears in the wilds of the Canadan tundra from your own home for a personal connection to this important species living in a changing environment.

Vice President and Director of the Annenberg Foundation Charles Annenberg Weingarten and his team at explore.org recently awarded a $50,000 grant to Polar Bears International (PBI) to help fund cameras and other equipment used to webcast the estimated 1,000 bears in Churchill, Manitoba as they start to make their way to the Hudson Bay.

The project helps promote the preservation of polar bears and provide an educational experience about the species. PBI’s program invites school groups, zoos, green clubs, businesses and community leaders to join the web streams to meet and talk with world-renowned scientists and educators as polar bears prowl outside. The grant will also be used to fund the Tundra Buggy, an all-terrain vehicle operated by environmentally responsible adventure group Frontiers North Adventures that gives visitors an up close and personal experience with the animals.

The polar bears are among the most magical of our planet’s endangered species and, much like the tigers of Africa, have come to represent the many consequences of global warming and industrialization. – Charlie Annenberg Weingarten

This contribution is being made as part of the Pearls of the Planet, a project of explore.org that aims to inspire global learning and preservation through the creation of an online virtual classroom. Live camera feeds from around the world will be selected to document fragile species and wonders of nature with all of the streams collected in one simple interface.

News about the polar bear cam has appeared on major websites such as those for National Geographic, ABC News and the Associated Press. On Friday, Charlie will moderate a live chat related to the project at 12:30pm EST onCNN.com.