Starting in the 1940s, the KitNoMa Council of Camp Fire held camps on a number of rented properties. In the 1950s, the council decided to purchase a property due to to increasing enrollment. They found a central location that included a private lake, owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Sprague of Port Orchard. Previously, the property had been used as a campsite for a local Boy Scout troop.
| 1954 | Camp Niwana was purchased for $10,000. The name was chosen by Camp Fire girls in the KitNoMa council, and means "to swim under blue skies".
Resident camp opened for the first time, with a dining area, swimming dock, one lavatory, camping areas, activity areas, and cleared trails. |
| 1960 | Totem pole was erected in honor of Camp Fire's 50th anniversary. |
| 1967 | The three cabin units were completed and electricity was added to administrative buildings. Niwana was always intended to be a rustic camp. |
| 1970s | The council began a yearly tradition of holding one week of day camp at Camp Niwana (in addition to other locations). Day Camp was held early in the summer, before resident camp opened. |
| 1977 | Camp Fire became a coed organization, and boys attended Camp Niwana for the first time. For the first few years, a special boys-only week was held. |
| 1985 | The last year of Camp Niwana resident camp was held. |
| 1992 | The KitNoMa Council merged with Seattle King County Council to form the Central Puget Sound Council. The merger was a result of financial difficulty, and was made after much consideration to save Camp Niwana, because it was "too beautiful and valuable of an asset to sell. It would never be possible to replace it." |
| 2000s | A very successful one-week day camp continues at Camp Niwana, run by Camp Fire volunteers. Niwana is also available to rent by other user groups who run their own camp programs during the summer. |
| 2011 | Planning begins to start an all-summer day camp at Camp Niwana; the camp will run for the first time in summer 2012. |