Nippers & Youth

For 5 to 12 year olds

Woodside Nippers is Surf Life Saving WA’s junior surf program that introduces children, aged 5 to 12, to surf lifesaving.

Held on Sunday mornings at local beaches from October to March, it is a fun, outdoor activity that grows a child’s confidence; teaches valuable skills and lessons about beach safety; and provides a fun and safe environment to get outside and enjoy our coast.

Our Nippers run, swim, laugh, and make new friends. It’s what we call serious fun!

Not only will your child have fun and meet new friends through the program, they will also develop the ability to become a knowledgeable participant in lifesaving beach patrols as well as a wide range of surf sports.

See the Nipper age groups.

For more information about the Woodside Nippers Program please email our Nippers Coordinator, Brad Woodruff - click here to email Brad.

There are 4 key learning areas in the Woodside Nippers curriculum:

  • Surf awareness

    Not only are surf skills needed to conquer conditions, but a knowledge of where the dangers are and how to read the surf are essential ingredients in keeping safe at the beach.

  • Individual safety

    This deals with recognising potential risks that we all face when visiting the beach, and in life in general.

  • Lifesaving skills

    This learning area starts to introduce our Nippers to the role we hope they undertake as they grow and develop into future lifesavers.

  • Surf sport skills

    Nippers learn a variety of skills to help them develop confidence and introduce them to surf life saving’s various surf sport events, such as swimming, board racing, and beach flags, to name a few.

  • “I love the confidence my children now have in the ocean as a result of the Nippers programs. They are able to recognise rips and dangerous surf conditions.”

For 13 to 15 year olds

Through our Youth program, we encourage teenagers to progress through the Surf Rescue Certificate and the Bronze Medallion. These courses, run by qualified trainers at the club, equip young people with invaluable skills they can take with them into adulthood.

For enquiries about our Youth program, please email our Youth Officer, Deb Edmonson.