Bring On The Adventure

I read a few responses, but don't have time to comb them all, so apologies for any overlap...
1) Make a list before you go. Seriously. Write down what everyone thinks they want to take. Then cut it in half. You will be in tight spaces. Make use of laundromats (or throw in the "camping" towel and don't worry about it if your kids wear the same clothes for 3 days straight). For food especially - find meals that use similar ingredients/condiments so you don't have to pack the entire refrigerator. I prefer to stick to our washable plates/cups/silverware, but I don't know what your RV will come with. (Disposables just take up that much more space.)
2) "Chore" charts: these might take time to develop as RV'ing is new to you, but they are helpful. For instance, our camper is small and it means the beds have to be "put away" every day so we can use the tables/space most effectively. I'd recommend getting the kids in the frame of mind that everyone will work as a team - making meals, cleaning up, putting things away, etc. but don't try to lock yourself in to a schedule or chore list before you go. Whiteboards/chalkboards are good for this.
3) Check KOA.com - while you're not planning to camp with KOA, their website is a wealth of camping info, recipes, crafts, and other ideas!
4) I'll pile on the National Park and geocaching ideas. Both are great for kids of ALL ages. You can also find a number of nature scavenger hunts online that are fun and will keep kids busy while also getting in touch with their surroundings.
5) I'm sure you already thought of this, but give each kid a journal to write their thoughts/draw pictures/stash keepsakes in. We also find individual flashlights are sanity savers (and can lead to shadow dance parties or shadow puppet plays). We only have 2 kids, but getting them each an inexpensive digital camera has been really fun. You can see the trip from their eyes.
6) Keep it simple. The most important thing for us is to NOT pack too much. We keep meals simple. We don't over pack entertainment. We have a few decks of cards, each kid brings a handful of books for downtime (I find it's a great time to read through my back stash of magazines...they double as campfire starter), we have a corn-hole game that fits in a cubby. The idea for us is to unplug from our devices (easy to do here in the Black Hills where there is zero signal and we use primitive campsites (no hookups)), and find things we wouldn't normally do. (Oh! A star book! Yes, there are apps for that, but it's so much fun to do it the old fashioned way - and works even when there's no signal!)
7) We put a hanging organizer in our only closet (hopefully you'll have a bit more space). I found it at Target - it's like a hanging shoe organizer only each cubby is larger (square). Each person then gets a cubby for their clothes. I also use small rubbermaid containers to hold toothbrushes/personal items.
8) Keep meals simple. Cook on the fire as much as possible. (I mean come on, you're camping! Don't rely on the RV stove/oven too much!) We like foil packet meals and it's easy to customize for picky eaters.
9) Glowsticks and sparklers. These are reserved only for camping trips around here. The glowsticks double as a good way to keep track of your kids at night.
10) Peeps! It's that time of year. Stock up and use them in place of marshmallows for s'mores. The kids will find it hilarious to watch them puff up. The adults will find s'mores even more tasty when you warm them until gooey, then get the sugar crispy (it's a creme brulee s'more!). Couples words of caution: hot Peeps are more drippy than regular marshmallows and can cause some serious burns; they come in a wide variety of flavors! Some are awesome for s'mores (birthday cake), some are gag worthy (lemonade). :)

Whatever happens - make fun the priority!!

RVing....SO fun :)
Rule #1: Watch RV, with Robin Williams - hilarious classic
Rule #2: Make sugar cone melts on the fire - sugar cones stuffed with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, whatever else your heart desires, wrapped in foil and heated briefly in the fire for melty goodness
Rule #3: Washer toss - total family favourite at my house
Some of my most favourite memories have been created since my partner and I bought a trailer 2 years ago. It is so much to me - a place where we come together, a place where I can truly relax without having to stare at a load of dishes or laundry or my work laptop, a place where I can sleep in. I hope you have a great time!

we live in the seattle area & RV camp year round. one thing i do suggest to bring is a 10X10 canopy (with sides) that you can put over the picnic table. helps keep the wind at baby when eating & it's especially helpful for when it rains & you still want to be outside. we always have two & attach the two together near the fire so there is room to sit inside & the fire helps keep it somewhat warm inside. hope you all have a great time! oregon coast..nehelam bay state park & cape lookout state park are our favorites!

You might try cooking and freezing a meal or components of a meal like spaghetti sauce or meat for fajitas. The frozen items can help keep cooler items cold and cuts down on meal prep time while on your trip.

My kids love using the Instax camera when we are camping--and I love the pictures they take with it.

My favorite camping meal is a "hobo" dinner. Wrap up a chicken breasts with veggies and seasoning in a aluminum foil packet and let it sit on the fire for a few hours while everyone plays. They can be customized according to each person so you get only veggies you like. We make these at home also by baking in the oven...so yummy!

I don't know anything about traveling with kids in an RV, but it sounds like a fantastic adventure! What I'm wondering is, how do you go about taking a photo like you did (with all the kiddos looking out the window), to make it look like it has that silhouette "thang" going on?

Lisa

I grew up camping with 6 kids in a trailer. Bring a small pop-up tent too. It's a safe adventure for the older kids to tent out (right next to the RV), and expansion space in bad weather or when you'd like fewer bodies in the RV. Also, s'mores, ghost stories, campfires and sing-alongs. Personally, my favorite part of camping as a kid or now as an adult, is permission to get dirty.

We lived in a motorhome for 500 days in the early 2000's and our best strategy was traveling during nap time or at night. Yes it can be a bit harder for the grownups to set up camp on arrival, but its worth it to wake up and ready to see the new places.