PETERBOROUGH — While the games of their youth often bring back memories, they’re not always nostalgic.

For the past couple of months, the Peterborough Recreation Department has been holding an Old School Gym Class, which resurrects classics like dodge ball, badminton and floor hockey.

For many, it’s a second crack at gym class, minus the awkward moments and the sweaty trip back to math class.

“I was always a little out of shape,” said Tony Bergeron of Rindge after Tuesday’s class. He says he didn’t particularly enjoy gym class in high school but is loving it the second time around.

Erin DeWolf of Greenfield said her old gym class was never this much fun. “It’s the same games, but I think when you get older ... it’s a little more fun than it was then. I think we didn’t like to sweat back then.”

The Recreation Department program started the class about two months ago and it was immediately popular, said coordinator Skip Hoyt. He said the class averages a dozen people a week.

The class is a loosely structured hour and a half. The participants pick a game, usually one they remember from childhood, and play.

“We try to get three different games and play each a half hour,” Hoyt said.

There are few other rules. “If you show up with your spouse then you have to play on opposite teams. We try not to keep score,” Hoyt said.

The idea is to go out and have fun, Hoyt said, and to “try to feel like a kid again.”

Tuesday night the class played badminton, floor hockey and bombardment — a game that is similar to dodge ball but has players lined up against a wall.

“We sweated a lot. We laughed a lot,” Donna Clark of Peterborough said after the class Tuesday night.

Participants said they like to be active, have fun and socialize and that’s why they are there.

“I always say I don’t go to the gym, but I like to do active things,” DeWolf said.

The Old School Gym class is, “good laughs and good exercise,” she said.

“It’s a night out. It’s fun. We’re constantly running,” said Clark.

Many of participants know each other from the summer rec department softball league and the local bowling league. And many like DeWolf joined the bowling league after making friends in the Old School Gym class.

“It’s a great place to meet people,” DeWolf said.

Another great aspect of the class is that it only costs $5 per night Hoyt said.

“Where else can you go and have a good time for $5.”