Summer is nearly here, and that means the Nippers season at Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club will begin soon.
Nippers is an inclusive beach education program for children aged between five and 13 that introduces participants to life saving.
Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club is one of 57 surf life saving clubs to successfully run the Nippers program for more than 10,000 participants across Victoria.
Seaspray Club president Chris Fleming said the program comprised safe, fun activities on the beach for life savers of the future.
“Nippers caters for all levels of experience and ability,” he said.
“The focus is on fun, getting involved and safety.
“As they move through the age groups, these kids learn valuable water safety and life saving skills. They gain confidence in the surf and learn how to use life saving equipment.
“We are particularly lucky at Seaspray as we can spread out along the beach and can use nearby Merriman Creek if the surf is rough.”
This season, Nippers will be held on most Sunday mornings in December and on Tuesday and Friday evenings in January.
Anyone interested in joining Nippers must first have their swimming ability assessed by a qualified instructor.
Assessments will be conducted at Aqua Energy Leisure Centre, Sale on Sunday, December 5.
The assessments will be done by age group.
Children aged under six do not need to be assessed.
The times are: 9am (under 11s, under 12s, under 13s and under 14s), 9.30am for 10am start (under seven, eight, nine and 10).
Nippers age managers will be running activities in the outdoor pool after the assessments if time and weather conditions allow.
Nippers should arrive wearing their bathers and bring goggles, a towel, drink bottle and warm clothing and a wetsuit if it is cold.
For more information about Nippers and to register, click here.
Those interested are asked to enter Aqua Energy via the main reception area off Brayakoloong Close.
Aqua Energy currently requires everyone aged over 16 who enters its facility to be fully vaccinated and to show their vaccination status via the Service Victoria app, a printout of their vaccination certificate or an official letter from their doctor with evidence of a medical exemption.
Those who are not Aqua Energy members may be asked to pay the entrance fee ($4.60 for children aged up to 15).
Nippers’ age groups are determined by a child’s age on September 30. That means, a child who turns 10 on November 1 will be in under 10, as they were nine-years-old at the end of September.
A child who turned 12-years-old on September 1 will be in under 13s as they were 12 on September 30.
For more information on Seaspray Nippers, phone (03) 4127 6800 (operations) or the Waves Bistro and Sand Bar on (03) 5146 4231, or email admin@seaspraysurfclub.org.au
