Not AT related but hoping someone can make a suggestion.
I have 2 nephews who are 15 & 17 living in Baltimore. They have never been camping but purchased tents, bags, pads, cooking gear, etc. but not backpacks. State and Fed campgrounds require you to be 18yo. Any suggestions within a 3-4 hours drive of Baltimore they can go.
This makes me realize how lucky I was to grow up 1 hour away from the GSMNP where we started backpacking in junior high school.