Camp Hillcroft Day Camp

International Children's Festival

Here's what our Families are Saying!

Parent of 3rd grade child, 3rd Summer at Hillcroft

Great Day Camp in Hudson Valley


My daughter has gone to Camp Hillcroft for the past two summers, and we anticipate many more. The camp is extremely well-organized with a wide variety of activities, including a strong swimming program. She is outdoors every day and comes home tired but happy. She does see friends from school at camp, but also has many new "camp friends" that we look forward to seeing each year. I am glad that she has an opportunity to develop interests and confidence in a supportive, friendly environment in the summer.

What is International Children’s Festival (ICF)???  It is the Festival of the heart…the Festival of feeling and giving to others less fortunate than ourselves. We firmly believe that our campers are not too young to learn about issues which face others less fortunate - poverty, hunger, illness, homelessness.  Why do we have ICF???    More than 80 years ago, during a very harsh winter, a little boy and his family and their entire Austrian village were probably spared from starvation by the arrival of food, clothing and medical supplies. The little boy remembered that the relief boxes, decorated with a Red Cross, came from America. The boy never forgot what saved his life.....and since that time has helped hundreds of young people to consider ways of reaching out to others in need. That little boy was Louis Buttinger, Greg's Grandpa. Had the food  and clothes packages not arrived....there would be no Hillcroft. We spend 2 days where we aim to empower our campers with the thought process that even though they are young they can do something to help others who are in need. Our Festival culminates in a camper-run carnival. All money raised at the carnival is donated to the ICF charities which the children vote on. These are all charities which help children in need. ICF truly IS the festival of the heart!!!