Best camping gear list I've found:

Campsite Equipment
Tent, poles, tent stakes, tie-downs
Plastic ground tarp for under the tent
Plastic tarp for over the tent (if tent is leaky)
Air mattress & pump
Sleeping mats
Sleeping bag
Blankets
Pillow
Lantern
Lantern fuel & funnel (if gas)
Flashlight & batteries
Portable shower
Trash bags
Rope (clothes line and 1000 other uses!)
Clothes pins (amazing what a little wind will do!)
First Aid kit
The Camp Site
Pitch tent on highest spot
Use under-tent tarp---always!
Be considerate of your neighbors
Will the spot be too noisy? (i.e. near busy restrooms)

Tools
Small shovel
Hammer
Scissors
Camping knife, army knife
Camping saw
Screw drivers
Wrenches
Waterproof matches
"Fire starters"
Fire wood

Cooking
Camp stove
Camp stove fuel & funnel (if gas)
Grill for fireplace
Camping pots with lids
Tea kettle or coffee pot
Frying pan (cast iron?)
Cooler & ice
Can opener
Bottle opener
Spoons, knives, forks
Plastic or tin mugs
Plastic or paper cups
Plates
Bowls
Serving spoon
Spatula
Hot pad
Dish towel
Sponge/scrubber
Dish pan
Nature-friendly dish soap
Paper towels
Sandwich bags
Plastic food storage bags or containers

Food, etc.
Some good almost-non-perishables:
Muffins
Bread
Chips
Peanut butter & jelly
Cocoa
Tea & coffee
Powdered drink mix
Pancake mix
Oatmeal, granola
Fruit (apples, pears)
Pasta
Canned salsa, sauce
Non-perishables
Canned goods
Twinkies and Pop-Tarts
Avoid glass containers, if possible
Water
Salt, pepper, seasonings
Cooking oil
Ketchup, mustard, steak sauce, etc

Personal Items
If hiking, see the Hiking List
Cash (in the local currency)
Identification: Passport, license, birth certificate
Towel (beach & shower)
Wash cloth
Soap
Shampoo
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Sandals or "flip-flops"
Lounge chairs
Insect repellant
Sunscreen
Walkman & batteries, tapes, etc.
Trail guides, maps
Backpack
Canteen
Toilet paper
Tissues
Prescription medicine
Sweater or light jacket
Heavy coat
Rain and wind gear
Hats & Gloves
Sunglasses
Bathing suit
At least 2 pairs of footwear
One "nice" outfit

Fun Stuff
Floats
Frisbee, soccer ball, volleyball, etc.
Board Games (Scrabble is my fave!)
Deck of cards
Books
Camera & film
Binoculars
Bird & Plant ID Books

Campground Features to look for...
Tent spots available?
How many cars, people, and/or tents allowed per site
Pool/swimming, ball courts, other amenities
Adult only or are children allowed?
Are pets allowed?
Fire places at each site
Picnic tables at each site
Camp store? Firewood?
Camp activities (hayrides, etc)
Discounts to local attractions
Proximity to what you'll be doing
Good restaurants and places to pick up supplies in the area
Cost should be reasonable
Trailer hookups?
Hot Showers
Laundry facilities
"Quiet time" hours

What not to bring camping...
A loud radio
Firearms
Anything valuable or easily damaged
Pets (if not permitted)

"Be Prepared"
Camping is wonderful. There's nothing quite like sleeping in the outdoors or the almost out-of-doors. In preparing to head out camping, you must balance your needs with what you can carry. Consider what is available where you are going: If you're going to a campground, maybe you won't need that portable shower.
Just use your common sense. If it's going to rain, I stay at a B&B. If cooking is a hassle, bring along food that doesn't require preparation (or just head out to a restaurant).

It's up to you how you want to enjoy your camping experience! Be safe, and have fun!

Camping Sites on the Internet
Campmor - Camping/Hiking outfitters
REI - Good gear
L.L.Bean - The place for everything...

From http://www.gonewengland.org/campgear.htm

next section is from Basspro.com:
Essentials

The first items on my list are what I call "Essentials." It's possible I might not need one of these items on a particular trip, but if I do (and chances are, I will), I'll have it. These are important things every camper will probably need sooner or later, including:
Cash, credit cards, checks
Required licenses and permits (for camping, hunting, fishing, etc.)
Waterproof matches and butane lighter
Multi-tool and/or Swiss army knife
Toilet paper
Flashlight, spare batteries and bulb
Maps and compass or GPS
Rain gear
Extra clothing
Insect repellent

What extracurricular activities will be part of your camping trip?

Personal Items

In this category, I include clothing, toiletries and other items each person in the group should bring. Everyone should pack the necessary number of items needed for the duration of the trip. The exact items will vary according to individual needs, time of year and other factors, but here are the items on my list:

Clothing
Pants, shorts
Shirts
Underclothes
Shoes/boots
Socks
Belt
Jacket, coat
Hat, cap, toboggan
Gloves
Swimwear
Nightwear
Toiletries
Toothbrush, paste
Soap, shampoo
Mirror
Comb, brush
Deodorant
Washcloth, towels
Miscellaneous
Extra prescription glasses/contacts
Prescription medicines
Watch, alarm clock
Sunglasses
Sunscreen, lip balm
Camping Gear

If you're staying in a trailer or RV, you may not need to worry about many of the items listed below. But in this article, we'll assume you're going to be tent camping. That being the case, some items you may want to bring include:
Tent, tent fly, poles, stakes and ropes (set up the tent before leaving to be sure everything is there and you know how to put it up)
Hammer or hatchet (for driving tent stakes; keep it in the tent bag)
Ground cloth (to go under the tent and keep it clean and dry)
Sleeping bags
Ground pads, mattresses and/or cots
Pillows
Tarp (has many uses)
Lantern(s) (including fuel, mantles, funnel, batteries as necessary)
Folding chairs, stools, tables
Extension cords (for camps with electric hookups)
Ice chest
Beverage/water jugs
Camping shower
Ax, hatchet and/or shovel
Broom
Food

Plan your meals before leaving home, and make a list of all food items you'll need using your menus as a guide. Some campers like to have elaborate outdoor meals, while others prefer not to cook at all. Either way, here's a list to help you remember some of what you might need:
Meats (hamburger, hot dogs, steaks, bacon, sausage, chicken, etc.)
Dairy products (milk, cheese, etc.)
Eggs
Bread, buns, biscuits, crackers
Vegetables (potatoes, beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, etc.)
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, salad dressings, syrup, BBQ sauce, etc.)
Drinks (coffee, tea, sodas, Kool-aid, juice, etc.)
Staples (flour, corn meal, sugar, salt, pepper, herbs, spices, butter, cooking oil, etc.)
Snack foods, dessert ingredients

Plan your meals before leaving home, and make a list of all food items you'll need using your menus as a guide.

Cooking, Food Service and Cleanup

The items you'll need for preparing meals, serving them and cleaning up will once again vary greatly according to your own preferences. Here are some to consider for your list:
Camp stove, fuel
Charcoal, lighter fluid
Firewood
Grill, cooking grate
Reflector oven
Skillet, pots and pans
Carving/cutting knives
Spatula, tongs, serving fork and spoon
Can opener
Measuring cups and spoons
Aluminum foil
Plates, cups, bowls
Flatware (forks, spoons, knives)
Scouring pads, detergent
Zip-loc bags
Garbage bags
Paper towels, dish towels
Oven mitt, pot holder

Emergency Gear

"Plan for the worse and hope for the best." That old saying has merit when you're camping. Always be prepared just in case something unexpected happens by having on hand a tool kit that includes a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches; a repair kit that contains such things as duct tape, wire, nylon twine, superglue and rope; and a first aid kit that includes all or some of the following basic items:
Band-Aids
Gauze pads
Adhesive tape
Aspirin
Tweezers
Needle
Moleskin
Single-edge razor blade
Antacid
Ace bandage
Diarrhea medication
Cold medication
Laxative
Bandages
Sunburn relief
Thermometer
Sting kill swabs
Eye drops
Scissors
Cortisone (anti-itch) cream
Antibiotic cream
Antihistamine such as Benadryl

From Kingdomofloathing.com:
Inflatable mini-pool, so that we can set it up beside our tent, and go to the beach with buckets, fill them up with water, bring it back to our tent, and fill it up.

Walkie-Talkies

Glowsticks and string.