1 . Four girls. Two tents. No cellphones. A thunderstorm. One hundred and thirty hours of nonstop togetherness. This was what Julia Ruelle just________.

“It was really ________,” said Julia Ruelle of her recent weeklong adventure to the Boundary WatersCanoe Area Wilderness with three childhood friends.

Earlier this year, Julia, having completed a ________for a brain tumor(肿瘤) in April, won a writing contest and was________ a free five-day camping adventure with up to three friends. Its aim is to get kids away from technology. She struggled to________ the final three — Anna Wander, Madeline Wilson and Julianna Torelli. No________were allowed, so getting their agreement was a bit ________. Having a satellite phone and promising to check in twice during the week finally won their agreement.

The four girls arrived in Ely on June 10 for training. They ________ the next day at 7 :00 a. m. , and quickly fit many things into their ________— getting up early every morning, going boating ________, then having lunch at the campsites, followed by swinging, reading, talking, and napping.

“I love how you are separated from everything in your life, especially ________,”Anna said. Without her phone, she said, “I’m less ________ about things.” “We got along pretty well,” said Madeline. “We were always talking before bed, about specific things and thoughts.” “But we might sometimes have had ________,” Julianna added. No one was even hungry or homesick, but they were ________ nervous one night as they waited out a thunderstorm.

After the adventure, Julia will continue to take physical examination every three months to make sure the tumor is gone. “Mental health can be ________ so much in the Boundary Waters. It really helps to reconnect with yourself,” said Julia.