Types of American Wide Games
Most American Scouting Wide Games are divided into the following types (although many other classifications are possible):
TREASURE HUNT TYPE: Each of two or more teams attempts to obtain a treasure and bring it to safety against the opposition of the other teams.
SEIZURE TYPE: Each of two teams attempts to bring a treasure from one spot to the other, at the same time trying to seize the treasure of the other team which is moving in the opposite direction.
CONQUEST TYPE: Each of two teams attempts to conquer a specified spot of ground defended by the opponents, at the same time keeping the opponents from conquering its own piece of ground.
Types of English Wide Games
It is convenient for purposes of reference and description to group Scouting Wide Games in a few broad classes, but it should be emphasized that such divisions are not watertight compartments; anyone who has attempted to classify games knows what a difficult task it is; the basis of classification depends entirely on what aspect of the matter we have in mind. We might, for instance, group Wide Games according to the numbers of Patrols needed; or according to the type of ground available.
The basis of classification we will use is the general character of the games. An example of each type is found by following the hyperlinks below. Suggestions are made for adapting it to numbers and ground; possible variations are also indicated.
English Wide Games are divided into four main types:
The bare bones of the game are revealed above. Detailed Descriptions below will illustrate how an atmosphere of romance and adventure can be added, and various Scout activities employed.
LIST OF SPECIMEN WIDE GAMES
The Viking Invasion (Raid).
Totem Raid (Raid).
Staffs (Raid).
Highwaymen (Raid).
The Wreckers (Raid).
A Polar Dash (Cordon-Breaking).
Bandits and Police (Cordon-Breaking).
Occupying the Thicket (Cordon-Breaking).
Border Raiders (Cordon-Breaking).
Foiling the Robbers (Treasure-Hunt).
Compass Trail (Treasure-Hunt).
The Lost Leaders (Man-Hunt).
Motor Bandits (Man-Hunt).
Ned Kelly (Raid and Cordon-Breaking).
The Gold Standard (Raid and Cordon-Breaking).
Rum and Tea (Raid and Cordon-Breaking).
The Rival Archaeologists (A Mixed Bag!).
The Surveyors (For Rover Scouts).
Escapes (For Rover Scouts).
Two Specimens of Actual Instructions Issued for District-Level Wide Games:
Capture the Flag at
Coleman Green
Robin Hood and his Merry
Men
Additional Games by A. W. N. Mackenzie
The following older Wide Games are from Mackenzie's Games for Scouts. The details are not as elaborate as the Wide Games above, but the high quality of these games makes them worthy of consideration for adaptation.
 | Hostile Raiders |
| Dispatch Bearer |
| Rival Dispatch Bearers |
| Joining Camps |
| Cargo Boats and Cruisers |
| Five Treasure-Hunts |
| The Holy Trees of the Incas |
| The Glory of Africa |
| Search for Prince Charlie |
| Spy Hunt |
| Escaped Convict |
| The Fugitive |
| Searching for Fugitives |
| Indians and Settlers |
Additional Games by Baden-Powell
The following B-P's Scouting Games were the very first Scouting Wide Games. For additional general details for conducting them, see topics at the top of this page.
| Flag Raiding ("Capture the Flag") |
| Numbers |
| One Tree Away |
| Bomb Laying |
| Snow Fort |
| Dash for the Pole |
| Ambulance, French and English |
| Dispatch Bearers |
| Dispatch Running |
| Telegraph Cutting |
| Joining Forces |
| Ambushing |
| The Pathfinder |
| Smugglers over the Border |
| The Traitor's Letter |
| Treasure-Hunt |
| Torn Manuscript |
See Also:
Night Scouting Games!
Ripley's Stalking & Scouting Games
Quick Planning Guide for Wide Games
Training for Wide Games
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