Kailin of Earth, a Clarks Summit-based wellness studio that focuses on reiki, sound meditation, yoga and meditation, leads students through a sound meditation exercise in the Fullers Overlook barn during a session in their three-day leadership training.
WAVERLY, Pa. – Penn State Scranton students took part in the annual Student Leadership Week at Penn State’s Fullers Overlook Farm in Waverly, marking the first time the space has been utilized since its donation to the University.
“Penn State’s Fullers Overlook Farm exemplifies our commitment to stewardship and sustainability,” said Penn State Regional Chancellor Elizabeth J. Wright. “Our students are fortunate to experience firsthand the integration of ecological preservation and agricultural production.”
During the three-day event, students explored the farm’s grounds while enhancing their leadership skills. The experience aimed to foster a deeper connection to the environment and their roles as future leaders.
Binni Patel, one of the many student leaders attending Student Leadership Training, said she enjoyed sharing her experience at Fullers Overlook Farm with her peers.
“It was such an amazing and peaceful space — beautifully maintained and full of history. Spending time in the barn brought a sense of nostalgia with its cozy interior, and learning about the Fuller’s legacy added a deeper meaning to our visit,” she said. “The sound meditation session was especially powerful and grounding. This space really helped me and my peers connect with each other during leadership training, and I hope future students can continue to use it for reflection, growth and community-building.”
Thanks to Mort and Sue Fuller’s vision and generosity, Penn State Fullers Overlook, now managed by Penn State Outreach, shows evidence-based solutions to regional and global challenges.
Mort and Sue Fuller, longtime philanthropists and advocates for ecological restoration, transferred Overlook, their 355-acre estate in North Abington, to the ownership and stewardship of Penn State last November. The Fullers’ gift, which also includes a monetary commitment, has a total valuation of $23.3 million and inaugurates a new era as "Penn State Fullers Overlook." The property will provide opportunities for cutting-edge research, facilitate on-site learning and enable collaborative partnerships with sustainability-oriented organizations.
Penn State Fullers Overlook is one of the largest gifts of land and property in the University’s history. Located 16 miles northwest of Scranton, this expansive property features more than a dozen buildings; 40 bedrooms; 120 acres of forests, wetlands and meadows; a 39-acre lake; and a 10-acre regenerative farm.
The Fullers’ gift builds on a partnership with Penn State that was launched in 2022. Since then, University faculty and students have pioneered several significant projects. Ecology specialists conducted wetland monitoring to measure the effects of climate change, as reflected in benchmarks such as invasive species, water quality, biochemical interactions, and extreme weather events like flooding and drought. A forest management team developed a woodland stewardship plan based on extensive data that was gathered on overstory tree species, diameter, health and vigor; a regeneration assessment; and analysis of competitive plants and deer pressure. A third project collected data on the Japanese barberry, an invasive broad-leaved evergreen shrub native to East Asia that not only contributes to the proliferation of tick populations but also poses a risk to the forest understory.
Additional research projects are now slated to ramp-up with the transition in stewardship now formalized. Anyone interested in learning more about Penn State Fullers Overlook can visit its new website.
Fullers Overlook Farm has been part of the Fuller family legacy for more than a century. Edward L. Fuller purchased the property in 1902, transforming it into a working farm. In 2012, his great-grandson Mortimore B. Fuller and his wife, Susan L. Fuller, enlisted landscape architect Thomas Woltz to reenvision the property, creating a master plan that rejuvenated the site’s ecosystems and celebrated its cultural heritage.
