This story is part of our summer storytelling series, which follows Hoyas’ adventures near and far.

Peter Sukstorf’s (SFS’26) interest in the environment started at the zoo.

Starting in eighth grade, he took classes in environmental conservation at Omaha, Nebraska’s zoo, and found his world got a little wider.

“The zoo was a window into different kinds of wild animals, things I hadn’t experienced before and the academic study of nature,” he said.

Ever since, Sukstorf has dove head-first into studying nature. He’s leafed through a rainforest in Madagascar to search for chameleons and helped rescue fur seals tangled up in debris on a remote Alaskan island.

This summer, he’s helping others discover nature, too, leading hikes on wildlife preserves, teaching children about bugs and river habitats, and monitoring the local environment in southern Alaska.

“I get to be outside in beautiful places. At the same time, I’m getting to do something I care about because I’m working to protect the environment. I’m educating people so they can be better stewards of our Earth,” he said. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”

Chameleons and Fur Seals

At Georgetown, Sukstorf is majoring in Science, Technology and International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service, with a concentration in energy and environment. He’s also taking courses offered through Georgetown’s new environment and sustainability degree.

Keen to get out into the field, Sukstorf traveled to the middle of the Bering Sea last summer, interning on Alaska’s St. Paul Island, which has a population of under 500.