Meet 4/C Patrick Child, a Marine Engineering major from Marshfield, Massachusetts, a coastal community thirty miles south of Boston. Marshfield has a rich history that stretches back over 350 years. One of the town's most famous resident was American lawyer and statesman, Daniel Webster. Webster served as the U.S. Secretary Of State under President William Henry Harrison, President John Tyler, and President Millard Fillmore. He lived in Marshfield from 1832 until his death in 1852.
Patrick attended Governor Edward Winslow School, Furnace Brooke Middle School, and Marshfield High School.
Patrick was raised in Green Harbor, within walking distance to the beach. He would get on his bike with his fishing rod and ride to the breakwater to fish for stripers and blue fish.
Patrick was boating long before he learned to crawl. In fact, Patrick was just ten days old on his first boating adventure. His family’s boat was the Honeypups, a 38- foot trawler named after his Nana. At age three, Patrick was determined to help coil the line. Naturally, Patrick was piloting the boat by age six. His dad stood by on the bridge offering helpful advice when needed.
Patrick has spent many weekends out on Boston Harbor. He’s also traveled by boat to Provincetown, on the northern tip of Cape Cod. He loved hanging out with family and friends at two yacht clubs in the Boston area - Milton Yacht Club and Port Norfolk Yacht Club.
Patrick’s time with boats wasn’t all fun and games. His father and Papa made sure that Patrick knew that caring for a vessel takes hard work and attention to detail. In the spring, he assisted his father and Papa with maintenance tasks to get the Honeypups ready for launching. In the fall, after the boat was hauled out of the water, Patrick helped with winterizing the engines and covering the boat.
Patrick is sending warm Caribbean sunshine to the students following from Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield and the Provincetown International Baccalaureate School in Provincetown.
Would you like to learn about some of the places mentioned in Cadet Child's profile?
1. Patrick spent a great deal of time boating on the waters of Boston Harbor. Click on one of the links below to discover this natural harbor and estuary adjacent to the city of Boston.
A. Learn about the many activities that are available in and around Boston Harbor. There are even webcams on the site. You'll feel like you're visiting one of Patrick's favorite boating locations. https://www.bostonharbor.com/
B. Discover Boston Harbor Island National And State Park, home to 34 islands and peninsulas. https://www.bostonharborislands.org/
2. Patrick traveled by boat to Provincetown, where the Mayflower landed in 1620.
A. Click on the link below to learn about the town's rich history. https://ptowntourism.com/history-and-legacy/
B. Provincetown's Pilgrim Monument honors the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620. It is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. Check out the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum website. https://www.pilgrim-monument.org/
