Holistic Review of the Summer Session for Teens

When I applied to this program, I wanted to push myself to learn new skills and expand my horizons. I also wanted to travel to a different country! I had only been away from home for 2 weeks and was terrified of a whole month. Immediately after getting there I knew it would be a fantastic experience. I got there before everyone else because my parents drove, and Rosie had a pot of tea--I could tell from the first impression just how warm and kind she was. All of the staff are not only gifted in art but amazing mentors who actually care about your personal development. I've had a lot of art classes in the past where they teach you one way of doing things and only help you as they walk by in a large classroom. At Cowhouse, everything is personalized and the mentors will follow you down any creative path you wish to explore--I was in the painting intensive but for my final project I got to do an installation with plaster molds, acrylic paintings, and I even got to paint on their barn floor. There is no end to their support, and the program helped me bring my skills to the next level while still feeling like I was mainly having fun with friends and going out. Art here is very much part of a broader social experience--the studio is open 24/7 and we often had late nights and danced while doing our respective art projects. The facilities are amazing as well. Each room holds 2-4 people gets its own personal bathroom in a homey wood house including a living room with couches and a computer. The chef at Cowhouse, Caitriona, is THE BEST COOK. I have never had such quality homemade food! It was like getting gourmet food every day (and they always had cookies and chips to eat for snack in the cupboard). The surrounding area is also so amazing. As a California girl, I felt like I was in a fairytale exploring their family-owned forest (with border fences so you will not get lost) and swimming in their lake. Students like me who love to run were allowed to leave the barn to run wild in the beautiful surrounding community. The off-campus trips were incredibly beautiful and all-encompassing; we got to explore rural towns, ruins, the city of Dublin, and Cape Clear island. I have been to a lot of sleep away and day camps in my life, and I have never had such a life-changing experience as this. The other students and staff came together instantly as a community and I am still in contact with the friends I made. My art skills improved and so did my artistic mind--my ability to see and analyze things differently will stick with me for the rest of my life. The workshops were helpful, fun, and eye-opening. I came back from Cowhouse a much better artist, but also a much fuller and a more enriched individual. That is where Cowhouse really makes a difference, it brought my entire being, not just my art, to a better level. This is definitely the most fun I have ever had in a summer.