Well. This is proof that moms can be wrong on occasion. (Your mom, in this case, if you're wondering.)
Here's a link to a pediatrician/mom's thoughts on sunscreen:http://seattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.org/why-broad-spec...
A brief excerpt, "Good thing is, most everyone agrees that the ingredients in sunscreen are less risky than any significant sun exposure or burn in childhood." She has other posts on the topic, as well, if you want to search.
In short:
1) The health risks from sun overexposure are greater than the health risks from the chemicals.
2) For Vitamin D, have your kiddo spend a modest amount of time in the sun (maybe 15 minutes) with no sunscreen. Obviously, you can't control outside time at an all day camp, so sunscreen for camp days. Or, just make sure she gets a Vitamin D supplement.
3) You can buy sunscreen with fewer chemicals, if you are that concerned.
One of the stupidest things I've ever seen is "Dr. " Mercola selling tanning beds on his website, presumably so folks can get their Vitamin D. Dumb dumb dumb! Those things are extremely harmful. Hmmm. Greatly increased risk of skin cancer vs. having to take a Vitamin D supplement. Which to choose? No brainer to me. Rant over.
ETA: More on needing sunscreen with different skin colors (or being tan). Most of my family vacationed in Cancun several years ago. My nephew, who is half-black (and has brown skin), did not use sunscreen one day. He got a severe sunburn and had a related fever, headache, chills, etc.. Did I mention that he lived in Vegas and had used sunscreen his whole life (except for here for some reason), and had already had ample exposure to the sun that summer? So, no matter the color of your skin, sunscreen is still a good idea.
ETA2: "Dr." Mercola is a quack and a snake oil salesman. Any "doctor" who wants to sell you a tanning bed with his/her name plastered on it is not a real doctor.