Chip Shop Chomp Challenge - Girlguiding Leeds

As part of our plan for growth ‘Have fun, be seen, spread the word’, we have been thinking of fun and easy ways to help increase our membership across Leeds. So, for ‘out and about week’, we’d like to challenge units to go on a Chip Shop Chomp.

It’s a simple idea and a popular classic! And, of course, we’ve designed a badge too. Members of all ages can join in, have fun and be seen out and about.

Download as a PDF for your Unit Download

Other helpful downloads

Leaders Guide PDF download

ChipShopChomp_LeaderPack Download

Badge Order Form

ChipShopChomp_Badges Download

What planning do we need to do?

You must plan for your chomp and consider appropriate safety arrangements:

List your local chip shops. If you don’t have any chip shops, you may have local take-aways or similar places who sell chips.

Plan your route. Guides and Rangers might like to plan the chomp route themselves. Identify hazards on the route, like roads and bodies of water.

Complete a risk assessment for activities outside your meeting place and consider the need for first aid kits, water, high visibility clothing & waterproofs.

You must meet the child to adult ratios for your group as a minimum and may need or choose to ask for additional helpers.
Think about dividing your unit into smaller groups with a different route or start time, so they do not all arrive at the same shop at the same time!
Decide if you want to let the shops know in advance that you are coming. You don’t need to do this, but you may want to if you have a large group.

Decide if you are going to use score sheets for the chomp. We’ve provided a template, but you could design your own or just hold a vote at the end.

Check dietary requirements, including food allergies and intolerances, and make adjustments as necessary.

Send out permission forms and ensure you have received completed forms for all young members attending the chomp before you go.

Ensure all unit leaders and adult helpers know the route and emergency arrangements, including contact details.

What resources will we need?

You’ll only need a few resources – money for chips is essential; pens/pencils and paper, clipboards, and a map of the local area are all optional.

How do we complete the challenge?

Download Unit Scoresheet Download

Meet at the agreed meeting place and time. Everyone should wear their uniform if they have one.

Explain what you are going to be doing. Be clear about what time you will meet up again and where.

Remind the group how to stay safe, such as crossing roads, and emphasize the importance of being polite in public.

Give each group details of the route they will take. Distribute maps and score sheets, if you have chosen to use them.

Give each group enough money to buy one bag of chips at each chip shop. Encourage the young members to take charge of the money.

Set off for your chip shop chomp. Each group should follow their allocated route to the chip shops.

At each chip shop the group will buy one bag of chips. Every member of the group will try the chips (if they want to) – no salt or vinegar!

Talk about what everyone in the group thinks about the chips. Agree your scores and make a note after visiting each chip shop.

All groups meet at the finish and share their scores or, if not using the score sheet, vote for their favourite chips.

Total all the scores and announce the winner. Your unit may like to present the winning chip shop with a certificate they’ve designed themselves.

Can we link it to the programme?

Yes, there are lots of possibilities for all sections to link this challenge to the Girlguiding programme. You could learn about money, play ‘fish’ games, find out about ocean-related environmental issues or go outside on an adventure.

Some UMAs to consider:

Rainbows – Fish are friends (Know myself), Story trail (Express myself) or Know your coins (Skills for my future).

Brownies – Coin hunt (Skills for my future) or Brownies on the move (Take action).

Guides – Global goalie (Take action), Catch of the day or Penny hike (Have adventures).

Rangers – Gutted (Have adventures) or Empty oceans (Take action).

Take it further:

Be Well theme – discuss the importance of exercise and a healthy diet, alongside having occasional treats like chips!

Take Action theme – discuss the environmental impact of overfishing and the importance of sustainable food choices.

What if I don’t have any chip shops nearby?

You can still have fun out and about. Play games at the local park, explore the local area on a penny hike or search for treasure on a scavenger hunt.

If the unit would like to have some chips, you could return to your meeting place and cook your own. You could even try comparing different brands of oven chips…

Finally, don’t forget to spread the word!

We’d love to see photos of your unit completing the chip shop chomp challenge. Check photo permissions first, but please share pictures via our county, Division and local Facebook pages. You may even be able to get some interest from the local press.

We hope you have fun getting ‘out and about’ this year!

Fun Facts About Fish

The tradition of eating battered fish fried in oil was introduced to the UK by Spanish and Portuguese Jewish immigrants in the 1860s.

Deep fried potatoes were also sold during the 1800s, but no one knows when and who put them together to make the iconic ‘fish and chips’.

Fish and chips were originally served in newspaper.

Harry Ramsden opened his fish and chip shop in Guiseley in 1928. It sold a record breaking 10,000 portions of fish and chips in one day in 1952.

Waste oil from fish and chip shops can be used to make biodiesel.