First Time Camping with Kids

Not sure how old your kids are but here are some ideas:
-warm clothes (dress in layers)
-first aid kit
-warm sleeping bags
-helmets for bike riding
-the kids should pretty much be amused w/the camping & outdoors but
you can take hikes, mini-walks if they're too young, do a scavenger hunt,
see if your camp site has any special things going on, biking etc.
-DVD players for the car ride
-extra jugs of water
-small propane grill (if not be sure to have a skillet & grill you can place
over the fire)
-rope
-flashlights!
-pillows
-bug repellent spray
-bbq lighter to start a fire (those long ones)
-book for yourself
-extra batteries
-extra socks
-extra blankets
-for meals we do easy & some premade fun stuff: steaks, bbq chicken
breasts, hotdogs, hamburgers, potato & macaroni salads, green salad,
fruit salad, chips, cheese slices, crackers, dips, graham crackers/marshmellos/hershey chocolate bars for s'mores, for breakfast
we do cereal, rolls, scrambled eggs, sausage, bagels, lunch is always
sandwiches & chips, dinner is the hotdog/burger/bbq chicken/steak
variety.
-lantern
-map
-always tell someone where you will be & the dates
-comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Make sure they are already worn in.
Then throw in Tivas or flip flops for comfort in the heat
Have a fun trip!

Bring a couple of board games, maybe some nature collecting science stuff, some books they can get into. One of the best parts of camping for us is that it lets the kids unhook from the gadgets, too. Bring sparklers, glow sticks, their own flashlights, etc. They will make their own fun for the most part.
My one suggestion is to bring two (for us, three) extra underwear and shorts for them. Every time we go camping, our now 8 year old daughter forgets to listen to her body and ends up having accidents walking on the way to the public restrooms. So, be ready for that possibility.
For meals, keep it simple. Especially since this is your first time camping with them. Burgers, dogs, sandwiches. It wont matter, because everything tastes better when you're camping!

Have fun!

We always did easy meals. I froze things and then as they defrosted, I. Used them. Frozen spaghetti sauce, frozen chicken stir fry, etc.
Breakfast was bacon and eggs, pancakes, juice, and coffee. Lunch was always something simple - sandwiches with a salad or fruit.
I made the menu, bought the things we needed, packed it all up, and had fun.
We have a camp kitchen that stays packed. I wash it all up when we get home and restock it. Our camp sites always had electricity, so that made life easy. Coffeepot just plugged in in the morning...
I pre-measured everything from coffee to pancake mix. I put everything in labeled ziplock bags. It made it easy.
Just go and have fun!

Not sure how old your kids are or if they are used to a nightlight, but we always make sure to have glow sticks to hang in the tent to use as nightlights.

We're doing the same thing next week. Our first camping trip with a 9 year old boy & 6 year old girl. Same type of campsite where you drive into it. We have a tent we'll need to set up. I'm planning to bring plenty of snacks, water and stuff to make s'mores. We're still not sure about what meals to bring though. Good luck!

How old are the kids? I always send the kids out to collect kindling for the fire and to get water. I bring a wagon for them to use. I bring the portable dvd player with plenty of movies in case of bad weather, and to watch right before bed. We also bring sparklers for the kids, and glow sticks. Card games and books are also a good idea.

We always do one meal of hot dogs, jiffy pop popcorn and smores cooked over the fire. I bring an electric two burner cooktop (we usually have an electrical site). Pancakes, French toast, turkey bacon, tacos, spaghetti, Kraft Dinner, chicken breasts are all easy to do. On the day we have to pack up I have something easy for breakfast like cereal or cinnamon buns so I don't have to wash a lot of dishes.

What is car camping? I am curious? You all sleep in the car?