Being silly is hard work - Summer 2007 Wartburg Magazine - Wartburg College

HOME > SILLY

by Michelle Caldwell '08

Being SILLY is hard work

Dan at the IPTV Kids Clubhouse Dan Wardell ’98 of Ankeny, Iowa, always wanted to “be silly” and work with kids. Becoming an elementary teacher was his plan until he came to Wartburg and found his way to the communication arts department.

For Wardell, getting an internship at Iowa Public Television the summer following graduation allowed him to merge education and communication arts into a career working with kids. It also gave him a chance to be a role model, teacher and hero to children across the state.

“I think like the kids. I love kids’ stuff, I love video games and comics and cartoons,” said Wardell.

Today, it’s those traits that bring out the best in Wardell’s job as host of IPTV’s Kids Clubhouse.

As a high school student, the native of Maynard, Iowa, acted with his buddies, which perhaps led him to the television world. “We would recreate scenes of Star Wars in the back garage while most people attended the football games on Friday nights,” said Wardell.

In college, Wardell aspired to work with Jim Henson’s Muppets. He and college friends began to do a radio program, Crazy Days Kid Show, at Wartburg, making up stories and doing silly stuff kids would enjoy. It developed into a huge success, and the show still runs in the Des Moines area from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The show is then podcast on iTunes, which has brought callers from the nation and from Sweden, Australia and Great Britain.

Once he changed his college major from elementary education to electronic media and public relations, Wardell joined the Wartburg Television and KWAR radio staffs. Another internship gave him the opportunity to work with Iowa television legend Grant Price, Wartburg professor emeritus of communication arts, in making the documentary, Opening Up a Whole New World.

His work with Price prepared him for his post-Wartburg internship at IPTV. Following his internship there, he pushed IPTV producers to put him on the air. His persistence proved to be worthwhile for Iowa kids and their parents, and Kids Clubhouse became popular immediately. On the show, Wardell talks about health and fun, educational things for kids to do.

“If you have something you love, you have to make it happen,” Wardell said. “I went to them and said, ‘Put me on air. Just give me a chance.’” After realizing “chasing ambulances and news reporting” was not his ideal job, Wardell decided to stay on at IPTV and took a position as a producer and director with the nonprofit organization.

Though his workday is not the typical “9 to 5,” Wardell said his love of the kids makes his job a cut above the rest. Outside of the office he attends one to two events a week, from zoos and Living History Farms to promotional appearances.

“We do a lot of tie-ins to the shows. We might do a reading program or travel across the state to libraries. I’m kind of like Spider-Man; ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ I can influence kids and educate them,” said Wardell.

Because IPTV is state-run and the citizens of Iowa keep the station on air, Wardell said everything has to be closely tied to education, demonstrating imagination and creativity. That gives Wardell even more incentive to get children interested and educate them at the same time.

Most recently, Wardell persuaded his producers to give him a chance to move onto the World Wide Web through podcasts. The short shows, “Dantastic You Do’s,” hosted by Wardell, show kids how to make everything from sock spiders to pretend alligators using household supplies parents can craft with their children.

“[My producers] were a little skeptical, so (the programs) were made just for online,” said Wardell. “But they have turned out to be very successful.”

While he was in college, friends and family members questioned his interest in radio and television and whether the fields were viable professions. However, he now knows radio and television have led him to the opportunities he has today. Wardell is grateful for the chance he has to serve families.

“I love the fact that every morning I get up and there’s an adventure waiting for me. I love my job. Since I told myself I was going to do something I love, it’s only been good for me,” Wardell said.