Outreach programs offered to the public by field stations are science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities. The Field Station Outreach Survey asks stations to indicate their approach to informal STEM education by selecting which strand(s) of science learning are addressed in each of their programs. The six Strands of Science Learning were developed by the National Research Council (see the full reference below) and provide a useful guide for exploring the science experience of outreach participants.

• Strand 1: Developing interest in science
• Strand 2: Understanding science knowledge
• Strand 3: Engaging in scientific reasoning
• Strand 4: Reflecting on science
• Strand 5: Engaging in scientific practice
• Strand 6: Identifying with the scientific enterprise

National Research Council. (2009). Learning science in informal environments: People, places, and pursuits. National Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12190/learning-science-in-informal-environments-people-places-and-pursuits