Our family built this gym for the town we call home.
"Shift exists because Anne and I wanted to build something to share climbing with the town where we are raising our kids."
Jack Ogilvie, co-founder
Anne's family has been in Holland since the 1980s. I grew up in Atlanta, spent fifteen years climbing everywhere I could get to, and moved to West Michigan a decade ago because Anne is from here and we wanted to raise our three kids in the place she loves. Our kids' grandparents are here. Our community is here. And for years, the closest real climbing was a long drive away.
Climbing has given our family more than a sport. It is where Anne and I have spent a lot of time together outside, from Table Rock and Linville Gorge to Red Rocks, the Sierras, the Tetons and Fontainebleau. Each of our kids climbs, and they love the movement, the friendships, and the problem solving. Those are life skills. We wanted Holland to have a place where that could happen for other families too.
Almost every friend we have watched fall in love with climbing did it in a gym, and the gym you start in decides whether you stay.
Climbing is how we spend time together.
"I've tried climbing before, but I don't know if I really fit in."
"This is my place."
We know climbing can feel intimidating from the outside, and that many people do not see themselves as climbers at first. That is okay. We built Shift with intention: hands-on staff who guide your first visit, approachable circuits designed for early success, and routesetting that keeps experienced climbers engaged. Climbing is for everybody, not just the physical elite.
Five promises we hold ourselves to.
A place people enjoy spending time, where families connect and friendships form on the wall and at the cafe tables.
Climbing hands you confidence one small victory at a time. We have watched it change people.
Reduced-cost Shift Sessions memberships and adaptive programming. Finances or ability should never be the reason someone does not climb.
Meaningful jobs, above-market pay and real benefits. The people here are the experience.
We put our experience and our resources into something we hope makes Holland better for decades, not quarters. If you see our kids running laps on the yellow circuit, say hi.
How we show up every day.
To deliver the most thoughtful, intentional and innovative climbing experience rooted in our love for climbing movement, our staff, and our community.
We are constantly seeking inspiration, drawing it from within climbing and beyond, and we apply it to the work that we do every day to discover innovative methods of doing everything the best and most unique ways it can be done.
Just like in climbing, there is no end to the journey, but only the constant pursuit of "better". We fail fast and learn from our mistakes. This helps us become a better company and better as individuals.
We make playgrounds for adults (and kids)! If we're not having fun... we're doing it wrong!
For people with no climbing, to people who know climbing, we share inspiring movements, moments, environments, and relationships with everyone we meet.
It's not about any one of us, it's about all of us. The care we exude for one another and those in our community is obvious.
We're experts at what we do. We're passionate and in constant pursuit of perfection yet, we don't let it slow us down. We take pride in the work that we do and we set our standards high.
The people behind the desk and on the wall.
