Architectural History professor instructs kids in camp

John Daniel Davey created a program to help young aspiring architects explore the world of construction, the environment and what it means to become a builder of society.

Many students select an area of study without sufficient understanding, and Davey wanted to end that by tossing them into the jaws of experimentation.

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Fourteen years ago he organized the Kid Architecture Program, a one-week camp that teaches youth from elementary to high school levels about architectural design.

Davey, an architectural history professor and associate professor of the Architecture Department and interior design, has dedicated himself to the University for 21 years.

His camp was recently selected for the Connections Award of Distinction. This award is set up to recognize and display the excellence of educational and innovational efforts. More than 90 institutions applied for the award, and only 40 were chosen.

I started the program because students were coming into design and architecture without knowing why they wanted to do it, Davey said. Some just chose to do it because their parents or teachers told them they were good artists.

Architecture is not just about being able to draw, according to Davey, but about problem solving and studying the design of the built environment. It also includes computer graphics, sketching, design, animation and construction.

Davey said children who are exposed to architecture early will have a better perception of the built environment and will be able to make more complex decisions in the field, and that is one of the reasons he started the camp.

Throughout the past several years, Davey’s program has won many awards, including the Citation of Honor from American Institute of Architects (AIA) Illinois, Award of Distinction from the Urban Network, Chapter Educational Award from the Construction Specification and the Region Educational Award from the Construction Specification Institute.

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Although Davey is pleased with his recent award, he is prouder of the impact he makes on young students.

I think it is an honor to be selected for the award, but I have a great opportunity to teach kids, and that is what I am happy about. I wouldn’t have done this for the past 14 years if I didn’t enjoy it.

Kid Architecture camps have been conducted twice in the Smithsonian Institution Building, and once in the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The camps work with children from a variety of different backgrounds, including inner city kids, the disabled, at risk and gifted children. The camps are also known for having exceptional hands-on activities for their participants.

Terry Owens, chairman of the Architecture Department, said Davey’s program is excellent and represents exactly the kind of person Davey is, someone who wants to spread his knowledge to others.

It is a very innovative program that allows kids to really understand their surroundings and why things are the way they are in the environment, Owens said.

According to Owens, Davey is a unique professor and always incorporates history into the lessons he gives. Owens has gotten the opportunity to attend some of the camps and is not surprised with their success.

Owens also said Davey does a great job of bringing the class down to the kids’ levels so they can relate to what is going on. Sometimes on the first day of class, Davey brings a baseball bat and speaks with the kids about baseball and who their favorite players are, just to make them feel more comfortable and interested.

There are not many professors who can receive undivided attention from young students because they have such a short attention span. Davey’s personality is just intriguing and he makes the children excited to learn, according to Owens.

If he is talking about Greek architecture, he will wear a toga to class, Owens said. He really attracts students to him, and they respect him for the experience he has because he has actually been to the places he talks about.

Reporter Ivan Thomas can be reached at [email protected]