What is Nippers?
“Nippers” is an activity-based program to educate young children about surf safety and awareness when visiting a beach or aquatic environment. The Nippers program also offers participants the opportunity to meet a new set of friends whilst they are being challenged in activities, within a controlled learning environment.
Through a fun and enjoyable delivery from our Age Managers and Trainers, Nippers are encouraged to learn about lifesaving. In addition to gaining vital surf safety and awareness skills, the older Nipper/cadets will learn things such as basic carries, first aid and resuscitation skills.
For those Nippers interested, the program also introduces the competitive side of surf lifesaving. Nippers interested in competing will have the opportunity to participate in our own Club Championship events, inter-club carnivals, regional and state championships to represent their Club.
Key Dates
The nipper program commences in mid-October (26 October) and concludes in late March (22nd March) each year. We break over the Christmas period from 21 December and return again in 2026 on the 18th of January
- Season Start – 26th October 2025
- Start times each week are 9.30am sharp – be there from 9.15am for roll call.
- Nippers carnival (hosted by Narrabeen) – 14 th December 2025
- Christmas party and last Nippers before holidays – 21 st December 2025
- Recommencement after holidays – 18 Jan 2026
- Nipper Club Championships – 1st February 2026
- Nipper Club Championships – 22nd February 2026
- Presentation day – 29 th March 2026
- Season end – 22 nd March 2026
Getting your children involved in Surf Lifesaving is very rewarding for the children and parents alike, they learn essential life skills, make lots of new friends, keep fit and you have the peace of mind that as they grow older they have the skills and knowledge to be safe when visiting the beach.
It’s for the whole family!
Nippers can be a very rewarding experience for the whole family.
Not only do the children learn important beach and water skills and enjoy the friendships that come with belonging to a club, their parents can also gain valuable knowledge and become involved.
Parents are encouraged to consider participation in the full range of Surf Club activities such as gaining their Bronze Medallion, becoming Age Manager’s, Competition Officials and Water Safety (Bronze Medallion is required to be water safety).
Parents are also encouraged to assist on Sundays by either becoming an Age Manager, a Water Safety Officer, non-swimming beach events helper or just a general helper.
Hands are always needed in the BBQ area and particularly on occasions like hosting a carnival or special functions.
Each family will be rostered onto BBQ duty at least once during the Season, this enables us to share this around.
