I took a May bw trip with two fourteen year olds in -- me, my daughter, my friend and her daughter.  My daughter and I also did a trip last August. No game boys or game girls or anything like that. ICK. Books-- yes. As to solitude equalling shmuckyness: I dont think so.  The wilderness allows us to each find our own peace, pace, enjoyment, contemplation time-- and a fourteen year old is old enough to master his/her own plan.

On my May trip, I was the loner who wanted to explore. The girls swam, read, and talked. The other mother read and sat in thought. We came together for meals. Every one returned rejuvenated and feeling good about each other, the experience, and our time to march to our own drummers. (Paddle to our own inner ripples????)

Have a wonderful trip.