Welcome! They members here will give you plenty of great advice. (like leaving the flares at home!)

I do lead groups of teens and have had lots of fun doing it. It's been anywhere from middle school to Juniors and Seniors in high school.

Aside from the other advice here, I will mention two things. New hikers get siked out a lot of the times. They think that it will be too hard or too long or that the food is terrible. Remind them that you will be walking. It is nothing more than that. I'm sure they walk every day.

The other item... good food will turn a miserable trip with terrible weather into a "remember that time when we hiked in the rain all day". Any comfort foods will make people at ease. It works wonders. Just a candy bar itself will change peoples attitudes, especially teens.

Have fun.