01/11/2025
Orange Bush Nippers – Dee Why Beach Visit
Information for Parents & Carers
We’re taking our inland Bush Nippers to a real surf beach at Dee Why SLSC November 8th and 9th.
This weekend is about experience, safety and confidence.
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1. Who is supervising?
• Children will be with Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club volunteers and Orange Bush Nippers leaders.
• We follow Dee Why’s beach rules – if their patrol/age manager says an activity changes, we change.
• Younger age groups (U6–U8) are kept very close to shore and need extra helpers at the water’s edge.
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2. What decides the program?
• The ocean on the day. Wave size, sweep, sandbanks and weather will decide what each group does.
• If the surf is too rough, we do more activities on the sand or very shallow water only.
• No child will be asked to go deeper than the leaders think is safe.
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3. Age group overview
• U6–U8: Beach games, learning about waves and flags, paddling/wading only, lots of sun/water breaks.
• U9–U10: Intro to real surf – wading, short in-and-out swims, beginner board work (very close in).
• U11–U12: Building confidence – wade → short swim → back, boards, spotting rips, buddy checks.
• U13–U14/SRC intro: Longer beach activities, boards and swims if conditions suit, leadership and helping younger kids.
Important: Children can opt out or stay shallower if they are unsure. We encourage them to tell a leader, “I’m not comfy.”
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4. What your child should bring to Nippers sessions
• Swimmers and rash shirt/club shirt and club cap
• Hat (for before and after water)
• Sunscreen 50+ (we will reapply – label it if possible)
• Towel
• Water bottle
• Snack / a few dollars if a BBQ or canteen is operating
• Warm top if it’s windy
Please name items.
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5. Safety messages we teach over the 2 days
• Swim between the red and yellow flags
• Listen to lifesavers the first time
• How to spot and avoid rips
• Signal for help (arm straight up)
• Stay with your group / buddy
• Sun safety (hat, shirt, sunscreen, shade)
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6. Your role as a parent/carer
• Get your child there on time for sign-in and safety briefing.
• Make sure they are sun-screened before arrival.
• Let leaders know about any medical issues (asthma, sensory, anxiety in waves).
• If you stay, please stand behind the age managers and let them run the group – this helps with safety and consistency.
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7. Things to tell your child beforehand
• “You don’t have to go deeper than you feel safe.”
• “Tell the leader if you’re cold or tired.”
• “This is their beach, so we follow their rules.”
• “We say thank you to the Dee Why volunteers.”
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8. Why this trip matters
Inland kids don’t always get to practise in surf. Learning at a patrolled beach with trained lifesavers makes them safer for holidays, carnivals and family beach trips.
Contact Collin 0403 634 576
Dee Why SLSC
