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A Wide Game (or field game or cross-country game) is a more ambitious undertaking than a typical Scout Game. The Wide Game takes in a considerable amount of territory and occupies from one to several hours. It requires thorough planning in advance by the Patrol Leaders' Council. The Wide Game provides romance and adventure, helps develop initiative and leadership, and increases the boys' Scoutcraft knowledge and physical fitness.
In its simplest form the Wide Game is a refinement on the old boyhood game of Cowboys and Indians, made a little more exciting. To plan the game the following steps are necessary:
 | Decide upon the theme of the game. Get your ideas from national or local history, from books of fiction, from stories, or even from the daily newspapers. But no matter from what source you secure your theme, make sure of its romantic appeal. |
| Study a map of your favorite territory and decide the positions from which the teams are to start and where they are to move. |
| Be sure that the comparative strength of the team is correct. |
| Develop the rules of the game. Each game should contain attack and defense in equal measure for each team. Be certain that no team is given advantages over the other. |
| Decide upon method of capture, i.e., how to put opponents out of commission. The simplest method is a piece of gauze bandage tied around the upper arm, left or right to indicate team. The capture of a bandage constitutes loss of "life." Provide a central place to which Scouts may come to secure extra "lives" and thus continue in the game. |
| Have equipment available or placed before the game starts. |
| Decide upon the time for the start of the game, the finish of the game and when the Scouts are to gather at a specified spot after the game to hear the results. |
| Prepare a sealed message to the leader of each team to be opened at the start of the game. This message should describe the theme the objects the team is to accomplish, scoring, special rules, and a map sketch of the territory (or refer to map brought by each team leader). |
Scouts take to Wide Games readily and will soon start clamoring for more. And, fortunately, more are always available. All that is needed to create them is imagination with which to clothe the simple skeletons suggested below, and to design others.
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