Black bears will usually shy away from humans unless you block their path to their cubs or their food source. I've been hiking when a black bear came out of the forest and started walking right toward me on the path. It was obvious it didn't see me, their eyesight isn't the best. I stepped off the path and onto a sawed off tree trunk and raised my arms to make myself look bigger.
The bear kept coming and got about 25 yards away, then lifted its nose and starting sniffing. As soon as it got a whiff of me, it turned and darted back into the woods as fast as it could go.
It was neat to see a bear that close and they seem harmless while they're just ambling along, but they are not. Always be careful and know the drill when in bear country. Whatever you do, don't take off and run unless you are very, very close to shelter. They will give chase. Maybe that's what the kids did.
Most people around here always have a sidearm when outside, for troublesome bear. Keep a clean place and usually never have problems. Dogfood, old salmon hanging, garbage outside really brings then in. Cardinal rule is when you see the same bear around your house the second time, you just shoot it; otherwise it'll be breaking in soon enough. Hasn't been anyone mauled for 20 years around here, but know two local older guys that have big scars from bear attacks many years ago.