CNHI News Service

For many kids about to start summer vacation, the elation of having all that free time can evaporate quickly until all that's left are two ominous, nearly inevitable words:

"I'm bored."

Adults without children also can go batty while trying to find summer fun in Oklahoma. Actually, that's a pretty good idea.

The Selman Bat Cave in Northwest Oklahoma, a site where countless Mexican free-tailed bats take flight each year, is among the state's most remarkable summer destinations.

Millions of migratory bats practically darken the twilight sky on summer evenings when they fly out of their roost.

"It's amazing, and I've been looking at them for over 30 years," said Bill Caire, a University of Central Oklahoma biology professor. "I continue to take students up there and they are just amazed. ... I don't think you can ever see so much life in one spot."

Caire, who also directs the Selman Living Laboratory next to the Selman Bat Cave, helped Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, with a bill this year that led to the Mexican free-tailed bat becoming the state's official flying mammal.

The same species fly in Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, the professor said, but Selman visitors "are impressed because they get a fairly close look at them."

The Mexican free-tailed is one of 22 bat species found at least part of the year in Oklahoma, according to Wildlife Conservation. Mexican free-tailed bats each year fly about 1,400 miles north from Mexico to the Selman cave, where they give birth and raise their young. The bats normally arrive in May and fly back to Mexico in or near October, depending on weather conditions, but the public is allowed near the cave only in July.

During their stay at Selman, the bats eat about 22,000 pounds of mosquitoes, moths and beetles per evening. In all, Caire said, there are five to seven maternity caves in Oklahoma for Mexican free-tails.

During 12 evenings in July, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation invites the public to the area between Freedom and Mooreland, near Alabaster Caverns State Park. Up to 75 people per evening bus from the state park to an area near the cave.

Participants take a short prairie nature hike to the bat viewing area, and there are activities for children along the way. They keep watch as the sun sets until millions of bats fly overhead.

Friday and Saturday visitors can stay longer to look beyond the bats and to the heavens at UCO's Selman Living Laboratory Observatory.

"It's really a neat combination," Caire said. "You can see the bats and then come see the stars."

Registration for a Selman bat watch began Friday and is scheduled to continue through June 26, though early action is recommended. Melynda Hickman of Wildlife Conservation said the program is "extremely popular and it usually sells out.

"There are those who might have seen one bat in their lifetime, but they're just dumbstruck by the whole sight of it all there," she said.

To register, contact Hickman by telephone at 405-424-0099 or e-mail at mhickman@zoo.odwc.state.ok.us.

The Woolaroc Ranch, Museum and Wildlife Preserve near Bartlesville could be another reliever for summer boredom. As the name suggests, Woolaroc offers varied activities sprawled over its 3,700-acre site.

It offers a western art museum, an exotic animal park where buffalo, elk and other large critters roam free, hiking trails and -- Mozart?

The Amici New York Orchestra, a group of classical musicians from New York formerly called Solisti, will return for a 22nd year to the OK Mozart International Festival in Bartlesville from June 9-17. One of their daily performances is scheduled June 16 at Woolaroc for an outdoor concert overlooking a lake and concluding with fireworks.

Jacqi Davis, one of the festival's organizers, said the orchestra first came through on a summer community arts tour, but kept coming back because of the turnout and facilities in Bartlesville.

Another summer highlight at Woolaroc will be KidsFest, an annual outdoor event scheduled June 24-25 to include many music and dance performances, living western history booths, arts, and games.

But every Tuesday through Sunday this summer, Woolaroc provides an outdoor time machine to Oklahoma's early days. Oilman Frank Phillips established the place in 1925 as his ranch retreat, but it has grown to a wildlife reserve, a petting zoo, mountain man camp, western museum and much more.

"You come to Woolaroc for an experience," said general manager Dick Miller. "You come to get a slice of what life was like in the 1920s and 1930s, to see how an oil baron lived."

Miller said even skeptical youths are surprised by all they can find at Woolaroc, whether it's the massive western and American Indian artifacts collection, animals, or meandering nature trails amidst the Osage Hills scenery.

"It's just a beautiful setting driving through these hills," Miller said. "There are things to do and see and experience what life must have been like 70, 80 years ago."

Woolaroc can be reached at 1-888-966-5276.

State parks are popular during the summer for serious relaxation or just horsing around.

Speaking of which, Arrowhead State Park near Lake Eufaula has a 25-mile equestrian trail and a camping area for those with their own horses -- certainly a whinnying combination.

The 2,200-acre park 18 miles north of McAlester also has a horse stable operation that includes carriage rides.

Visitors not as neigh-borly toward horses can take advantage of a scenic 18-hole golf course and miniature golf area, playground equipment for kids and nature trails, along with the 102,500-acre man-made wonder that is Lake Eufaula.

The lake is a popular place to go boating, waterskiing, swimming and fishing. The park already has a marina, but another is being built now that David Clifton, assistant manager at Arrowhead, said should be completed by the fall.

A number of state parks will have occasional special events this summer, but the beauty, features and amenities of Arrowhead and Lake Eufaula stand on their own.

"It's the view, the surroundings," Clifton said. "It's close to the lake and you can sit on a hill and look over the lake. It's beautiful."

Those are just three of many Oklahoma destinations people can explore. From scaling Black Mesa at the Panhandle's northwest corner to the Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival in Oklahoma City to the Little River Wildlife Refuge east of Idabel, there will be plenty to do this summer.

Towns throughout the state will break out the bunting for annual festivals, the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas will have concerts and fairs to go with their usual attractions, and the great outdoors will always be there to get away from it all.

Kind of like the trek to Freedom.

Hickman, who organizes the Selman Bat Cave tours, said the area "has very little to remind you of civilization.

"It's an opportunity to watch millions of bats over your head, and this is something that's been going on over 100 years," she said. "There are not many places you can go to do that. If not for the utility poles, you wouldn't know you're anywhere near civilization."

James S. Tyree is CNHI News Service Oklahoma reporter.