Rebecca Hubbard’s sons are big fans of the Monon Center’s Home School Gym program.

Each Monday, the center in Central Park holds a one-hour class for students who are home-schooled.

Hubbard’s sons are sixth-grader Stephen and fifth-grader Joseph. Both are age 11, not quite a year apart.

“We’ve been here ever since the Monon Center started these classes,” said Hubbard, a Carmel resident. “They are always excited to come. They always remind me to sign up for every session. We haven’t missed a session yet.”

The program is divided into seven-week sessions. The cost is $27. The age range is 6-12, and then the groups are split by age.

The sessions, which run from August through May, usually average around 20 boys and girls, said Tess Pinter, The Monon Center’s recreation manager.

“The instructors take a real interest in the students and help them compete fairly,” Hubbard said. “There is focus on competing fairly and letting everyone participate, but they still allow you to have a winner when they play by teams. It gets them moving around and, for boys, that is real important. It also gives them a chance to work with other children as a team, but they also have to excel on their own.”

Hubbard said her sons also compete in taekwondo and have played in other organized sports.

Home School Gym is a good training ground, Stephen said.

“We learn about sportsmanship and how to learn the rules on these games,” said Stephen, who played Capture the Flag at this Monday’s session. “I like making new friends. It’s a lot of fun.”

Joseph said he enjoys running and competing.

Diana King, another Carmel resident, has two daughters in the program, Sarah, 10, and Amanda, 8.

“They love it,” King said. “It’s a great way for them to get some exercise, meet other kids and learn. I’m not a very athletic person myself and don’t know a lot of rules to the game. It’s neat they can come here and learn basketball, volleyball and kickball.”

King said her daughters sign up each session, too.

“It’s reasonably priced, which is important because we’re a one-income family,” said King, who added her daughters are also active with other children in their church’s activities.

Peggy Davis, who lives in northern Indianapolis, has a daughter Holly, 10, in the program.

“We do other activities with other home-school children, and we pay for other things like dance classes,” Davis said. “But this is teaching things that I can’t teach them at home like volleyball or kickball.”