ANZA Nippers is back in full flow, and it’s fantastic to see both familiar and fresh faces hitting the sand at Palawan Beach, Sentosa.
With so many committed members of our water-loving group, we decided to find out just what makes kids return week after week. Besides the classic “because my parents make me!”, our young lifesavers revealed what they enjoy, and what personal goals they’re setting for themselves.
Jacob Trovell summed it up simply: he “likes coming to the beach, seeing his friends, and competing.” A passion for outdoor fun and friendly competition was echoed by many. Even among the younger Nippers, birthday boy Alexander Smith shared that he “loves Nippers” because he enjoys “hanging out with friends, trying different competitions, and trying to win.”
Heaps of fun
Another popular theme was the variety of activities on offer. Andrew Smith told us, “The water activities and hopping on the boards are heaps of fun.” Gwyneth Oscar mentioned how much she enjoys “getting lots of exercise, being out in the fresh air, and meeting new friends.” Rose McCulloch agreed, saying she likes “getting to go in the sea” and finds “standing on the boards fun, but a bit tricky.”
The boards were a clear favourite! Hugo Whelan grinned as he described how much he “loves the boards because they go fast, and it’s fun when you fall off.” Nico Ruiz de Fernandez shared the same view: “I look forward to the boards because they go really fast.”
Of course, not everything is easy. When asked what task they find the most difficult, there was almost unanimous agreement: the long swim. Eloise Miller and Lola Weber both listed it as their biggest challenge – along with nearly everyone else!
But beyond the exercises and challenges, what do our members hope to get out of ANZA Nippers? Hetti Pearson shared a lovely story: “Dad was a volunteer surf lifesaver back home at Bondi, so he was really into his kids learning to stay safe in the water.” She went on to add that her dad “sees the group as great bonding time for him, her, and her brother.”
“I look forward to the boards because they go fast”
The lifesaving aspect wasn’t lost on many of the kids. Amelia Biti revealed that she comes to Nippers “so if my friends aren’t good at swimming, I can save them.” Charlie Deloughery added that she “wants to become a good swimmer and learn things that can help people on the beach.”
Lastly, a comment from my own daughter, Kaia. She said one of the best things is that ANZA Nippers teaches her about looking after the planet. “Picking up rubbish on the beach before we start activities has shown me how important it is to look after the Earth,” she shared. “We even started something called Earth Rangers at school to do the same thing in the playground.”
The kids’ answers speak volumes about the joy, challenges, and sense of purpose they find at ANZA Nippers – and makes our jobs as volunteer parents so worthwhile. See you on Sundays!
